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in 

It! 


I 


DIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 


C.  P.  HUNTtNGTON 


Class  No, 


C 


-'  >  ''• 


. 


OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY 


NAT    ZOAN; 

A    ROMANCE    OF    BORNEO. 

BY 

HECTOR     A.     STUART. 

"CALIBAN." 


I  loved  her  ;  love  will  find  its  way 

Through  paths  that  wolves  would  fear  to  prey  ; 

And  if  it  does  enough,  'twere  hard 

If  passion  met  not  some  rewaid." 

BYRON. 


SAN  FRANCISCO  : 

WM.  P.  HARRISON,  PRINTER,  518  SACRAMENTO  STREET. 
1876. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1876, 

BY  HECTOR  A.  STUART, 
In  the  Office  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress,  at  Washington. 


TO 

JOHN    BIDWELL 

OF    CHICO, 

A    PIONEER    OF    CALIFORNIA, 

THIS    VOLUME    IS    INSCRIBED    BY 

THE  AUTHOR. 


JOHN    BIDWELL. 


INSCRIBED  TO  THE  PIONEERS  OF  CALIFORNIA. 


A  noble  race,  decreasing  every  year, 

Are  those  who  formed  the  pillars  of  our  State  ; 
Who  did  the  car  of  Progress  pioneer, 
And  found  a  nation  destined  to  be  great 

Upon  this  Western  shore  ; 

Who  hither  proudly  bore 
Chivalric  traits,  strength,  courage,  enterprise- — 
The  nerve  to  venture,  faith  to  sacrifice, 
And  countless  perils  dare  ;  alert  with  hope — 
Shunning  no  toil — all  confident  to  cope 

With  aught  opposing ; 

Yea,  gifts  disclosing, 

Brilliant  in  thought  and  generous  of  heart — 
Pursuing  oft  the  Christian's  goodly  part. 

Such  were  the  Pioneers — 

Such  BIDWELL  still  appears  : 
A  shining  type  of  an  illustrious  band, 
The  bulwarks  once  of  their  adopted  land — 
Who  still  respect  for  actions  past  command, 
And  still  as  monuments  admired  to-day 
Proclaim  of  virtues  Time  cannot  decay. 


THB 

DIVERSITY 


NAT    ZOAN. 


This  is  the  sequel  to  "  BEN  NEBO,"  being  the  closing  adven 
tures  of  that  wandering  mariner.  The  scene  is  laid  on  the  coast 
of  Borneo  and  adjacent  seas.  The  sketches  of  manners,  cus 
toms,  scenery,  etc.,  are  strictly  correct,  no  poetic  embellishment 
being  employed. 


CANTO    I 


Oh,  could  I  climb  sky-reaching  Pisgah's  hight 
And  view  like  Israel's  chief  the  landscape  o'er, 

Not  all  the  perils  spread  before  my  sight — 
The  Anak  race,  or  Jordan's  stormy  roar, 
Should  turn  me  from  the  keenly  wished-for  shore. 

So,  could  I  now  the  fire  of  youth  regain, 

And  nerved  with  courage  distant  scenes  explore 

As  in  times  past,  I'd  thread  the  tropic  main  ; 

Nor  all  its  terrors  should  my  wandering  steps  restrain. 


But  Fate  forbids  ;  here,  anchored  like  a  wreck 
Upon  a  ledge-bound  coast,  I  drooping  lie  ; 

Relentless  doomed  no  more  to  tread  the  deck, 
Or  hear  the  sea-winds  shrilly  whistle  by — 
The  surges'  moan,  the  sea-gulls'  boding  cry. 

No  more  to  join  the  chase — or  list  again 

The  voice  of  conflict,  when,  with  ardor  high, 

Brave  spirits  strive  Fame's  bubble  to  attain, 

Or  boldly  fall  beneath  the  nitrous  hurricane  t 


So  Fate  ordains  ;  yet  Fancy  oft  careers 

And  wakes  anew  her  weirdly  vivid  themes  ; 

The  vanished  past  again  renewed  appears, 

And  shapes,  long  mouldered  into  ghostly  dreams, 
Vivific  rise,  warmed  by  her  cheering  beams. 

Fired  by  her  power,  I  wing  a  sea-ward  flight 
To  where  the  vertic  Orb  untempered  gleams  ; 

There  tune  the  sea-born  harp,  long  hid  in  night, 

And  sing  the  toils  of  love — the  glorious  battle  plight ! 


NAT   ZOAN. 


'  i 


I  hear  a  mystic  voice  around  me  breathe,- 
As  if  a  spirit  whispered  in  the  breeze, 

Whose  breath  scarce  stirs  this  swaying  palm,  beneath 
Whose  rustling  fronds  I  rest  in  dreamy  ease, 
Near  the  blue  marge  of  Austral's  placid  seas. 

It  is  the  voice  of  years,  that  long  asleep, 
Now  wakes  again  its  plaintive  melodies  ; 

Wild,  warbling,  all  from  dark,  oblivion's  deep — 

They  bid  my  pensive  soul  in  sad  remembrance  weep. 


Oh,  elfin  tones  !  and  must  ye  still  arise 
From  the  dark  vale-of  years  forever  fled  ? 

Still  must  I  list  your  never-ceasing  sighs, 

Like  ghostly  mourners  wailing  o'er  the  dead, 
Dirging  the  mournful  past  to  shadow  sped  ? 

Methought  that  Time,  which  changes  all,  had  cast 
On  you  his  grave-like  pall — on  you  had  shed 

His  deeply  shading  spell — and  girded  fast, 

Beyond  the  reach  of  thought,  ye  slept  entombed  at  last. 


12  NAT  ZOAN. 


But  there  are  things  which  Time  cannot  destroy, 
Though  in  -his  boundless  urn  they  mouldering  lie- 

Deep-hidden  things,  mayhap  alight  with  joy, 
Or  darker  toned,  awake  a  heartfelt  sigh, 
As,,  draped  in  shade,  they  pass  like  spectres  by. 

So  hath  the  past  to  all  more  gloom  than  light, 
And  clouds  o'ercast  the  fairest  shining  sky  ; 

Yea,  life  to  some  is  but  one  endless  night, 

As  every  dragging  hour  bears  sorrow  in  its  flight. 


And  such  was  he  whose  ventures  now  I  sing — 

The  bold  sea-rover  of  the  Southern  Main, 
Of  whom  in  days  agone  I  tuned  the  string, 

And  sang  in  measured  tones  the  nautic  strain. 

Nat  Zoan  and  his  deeds  I  chant  again, 
As  o'er  the  restless  wave,  by  Fate  impelled, 

He  dares  anew  his  wayward  course  maintain  ; 
Him  by  the  talisman  of  anguish  spelled, 
Have  we  a  mournful,  hopeless,  wandering  man  beheld. 


NAT  ZOAN.  13 


And  him  in  moody  thought  we  left  imbound, 

A  lonely  outcast  on  the  Pirate  Isle, 
While  tempest  gales  resounded  hoarsely  round 

The  crumbling  turrets  of  the  ruined  pile, 

And  him  to  sadder  musings  did  beguile  ; 
Yet  as  his  mind  in  dismal  tumults  wrought, 

The  hand  of  God  was  near  him  all  the  while, 
And  with  great  mercy  and  great  ardor  fraught, 
Him,  deep-desponding  man,  to  blissful  safety  brought. 


'Tis  midnight :  and  the  storm  by  slow  degrees 

In  murmurs  sinks  along  the  craggy  shore  ; 
Less  rudely  swell  the  tempest-beaten  seas, 

And^in  decreasing  gusts  the  whirlwinds  roar. 

When,  hark  !  a  hollow  boom  rolls  slowly  o'er 
The  boisterous  sea,  and  shakes  the  air  around, 

As  if  a  gun  discharged  its  nitrous  store 
From  some  ill-fated  ship  by  perils  bound, 
And  roused  Nat  Zoan  from  his  gloomy  trance  profound. 


14  NAT  ZOAN. 


A  minute  past :  again  the  alarum  falls, 

And  thrills  the  sailor  with  a  weird  surprise. 

A  signal  gun — for  aid  it  loudly  calls — 

For  aid  which  one  sagacious  man  supplies. 
•  Down  to  the  beach  Nat  Zoan  nimbly  flies, 

And  lo,  upon  the  coral  reef,  where  he 
Was  ruthless  cast,  a  fated  vessel  lies 

At  the  rude  mercy  of  the  raging  sea, 

While  oft  her  people's  cries  resounded  dismally. 


8 


Those  cries  Nat  Zoan  heard  in  keen  distress, 

And  fain  would  aid  the  death-environed  crew, 
Yet  little  thought  that  in  his  loneliness 

He  more  than  their  unhappy  fate  could  rue  ; 

Albeit  from  the  ruined  tower  he  drew 
A  Leila,  (i)  long  in  peaceful  age  grown  old, 

But  still  for  service  fit.     From  this  he  threw 
A  massive  link,  within  whose  iron  fold 
A  sounding-cord,  well  bent,  its  airy  flight  controlled. 

(r)     See  note. 


NAT  ZOAN.  15 


The  charge  disparts — the  ponderous  missive  rings, 
And  with  a  lightning  whirl  the  air  divides  ; 

Well-aimed  it  shoots — beyond  the  vessel  springs, 
And  o'er  her  waist  the  uncoiling  cordage  glides, 
Despite  the  seas  which  lash  her  riven  sides. 

Soon  as  it  falls  the  junkmen  rush  amain, 
And  seize  it  as  across  the  rail  it  slides  ; 

A  hawser  to  it  bend— fit  to  sustain 

Themselves  above  the  surge  while  they  the  land  regain. 


10 


The  hawser  landed  ;  thence  around  a  tree 

The  end  in  many  a  sturdy  warp  is  wound ; 
Then,  to  convey  the  shipwreckt  company, 

A  wooden  heart  is  to  the  hawser  bound — 

Ingenious  thought  !  which  Fate  with  triumph  crowned. 
Fixed  on  this  traveller,  the  crew  in  fours 

Were  hauled  ashore — save  three,  who  slipping,  found 
A  grave  upon  these  rude,  sea-beaten  shores, 
Where,  o'er  the  coral-ledge,  the  hoarse-tongued  breaker  roars. 


1 6  NAT  ZOAN. 


ii 


Save  these,  all  on  the  beach  were  grouped  as  dawn 
Looked  through  the  cloud-rifts  of  the  leaden  sky  ; 

A  haggard  crew,  by  the  bleak  tempest  shorn 
Of  all  they  owned,  save  what  might  haply  lie 
Upon  the  sea-lashed  marge,  upcast  so  high 

As  to  escape  the  greedy  waves,  that  still 
Tumultuous  wrought,  as  if  they  would  defy 

Fate's  law  supreme,  and  loose  the  rock-ribbed  hill — 

While  round  the  caverned  shore  the  blasts  vibrated  shrill. 


12 


They  were  a  curious  race,  these  castaways  ; 

From  Chuzan  they  as  South  Sea  traders  sailed , 
Nor  ill  encountered,  till  amid  a  haze, 

Which  long  upon  the  restless  seas  prevailed, 

Their  junk  a  Prahu  (2)  suddenly  assailed. 
They  boldly  fought,  but  as  it  hapt  in  vain, 

'Till  night  in  shade  the  struggling  crews  envailed  ; 
Then  by  a  breeze  which  favored,  o'er  the  main 
Far  from  their  plunderous  foe  they  safety  sought  to  gain. 

(2)     See  note. 


NAT  ZOAN.  17 


Three  days  they  scud,  when  from  the  lookout  rang 

At  midnight's  hour,  the  startling  cry  of  Land  ! 
Dismayed  they  heard — on  deck  immediate  sprang, 

And  the  surrounding  waste  in  horror  scanned. 

Sad  was  the  prospect — almost  them  unmanned, 
For  dangers  loomed  where'er  their  gaze  explored  ; 

Tremendous  crags  rose  frowning  on  each  hand, 
And  quicksands  yawned  with  death  insiduous  stored, 
While  surges  o'er  their  ship  in  mighty  cascades  poured. 


In  frantic  haste  the  anchor  they  let  go, 
And  for  a  while  rode  safely  on  the  main  ; 

But  every  hour  the  winds  increasing  blow, 
And  rising  surges  tauter  stretch'd  the  chain, 
'Till  snapt  at  last  it  rent  beneath  the  strain  ; 

Then  helpless  drove  the  shattered  junk  ashore, 
Nor  hope  of  life  her  seamen  entertain  ; 

Yet — last  appeal — they  bid  the  cannon  roar, 

And  aid,  if  aid  there  be,  in  hollow  tones  implore. 


1 8  NAT  ZOAN. 


Those  tones  Nat  Zoan  from  his  dreams  awoke, 
And  him  unto  the  beach  in  wonder  brought, 

Where,  though  the  waves  in  lawless  anger  broke, 
And  seemed  with  more  than  wonted  horrors  fraught, 
His  ready  mind,  in  scenes  of  trial  taught 

No  hope  to  banish  and  no  toil  forego, 

When  helpless  souls  the  boon  of  succor  sought, 

Did  with  inventive  skill  fit  aid  bestow — 

Relieved  the  hapless  crew  from  their  despairing  woe. 


16 


Him,  when  in  safety  on  the  beach  they  stood, 
Their  chief  Hocampi,  a  Labuan  famed 

For  deeds  of  valor,  and  whose  sullen  mood 
No  genial  warmth,  no  tender  kindness  tamed, 
But  haughty  alway,  soon  with  ire  inflamed — 

Unto  Nat  Zoan  came  and  did  present 

A  jewelled  Kris,  (3)  which  once  as  master  claimed 

That  mighty  soldier,  who  on  power  intent, 

As  Sha  Jehan  all  Ind  unto  his  sceptre  bent. 

(3)     See  note. 


NAT  ZOAN.  19 


It  was  a  Kris  of  wond'rous  make  and  fame, 

With  which  great  sultans,  thirsting  for  renown, 
Rose  to  magnificence  or  sank  to  shame. 

Upon  the  hilt  there  gleamed  a  golden  crown, 

And  in  a  dazzling  line  the  blade  adown 
A  mystic  text  from  the  Alcoran  wrought, 

In  Yemen's  tongue,  did,  charged  with  evil  frown 
And  vengeance  launched  'gainst  him  who  malice  fraught 
In  guile  or  battle-broil,  its  master's  life-blood  sought. 


18 


The  edge  was  like  unto  a  razor  keen, 

Of  tempered  steel,  by  cunning  workmen  wrought, 
Equal  the  blade  to  the  best  Damascene 

That  e'er  against  Saladin's  foemen  fought, 

Or  to  the  dust  crusading  champions  brought  ; 
And  on  the  scabbard,  carved  in  arabesque, 

Were  silver  figures  of  unearthly  sort, 
Inlaid  with  pearls,  devised  with  skill  grotesque, 
Or  formed  with  magic  art  in  mazes  picturesque. 


20  NAT  ZOAN. 


This  gallant  weapon  did  Hocampi  yield 
To  the  bold  sailor  for  his  conduct  brave, 

Without  'which  his  and  his  men's  fates  were  sealed 
And  all  ere  this  engulfed  beneath  the  wave, 
Now  rumbling  o'er  their  comrades'  coral  grave. 

The  splendid  gift  Nat  Zoan  well-pleased  took, 
And  in  return  a  cordial  welcome  gave  ; 

Yet  could  his  spirit  ill  the  donor  brook, 

Or  bide  his  murderous  eye,  his  crafty  underlook. 


20 


Yet,  despite  these,  he  bade  the  Labuan  bring 

His  swarthy  troop  into  the  pirate  tower, 
Where  he  so  long  enthroned — a  lonely  king — 

Had  ruled  the  Isle  with  none  to  thwart  his  power. 

His  wish  obeyed  ;  there,  hungered,  they  devour 
Delicious  fruits  of  many  natured  taste  ; 

Then  in  convivial  joys  beguile  the  hour, 
While  palmy  wine  their  nerves  inspiring  braced, 
And  sense  of  life  secure,  all  present  ills  effaced. 


NAT  ZOAN.  21 


21 


But  still  their  thoughts  upon  the  future  dwelt, 

And  wove  in  secret  many  a  varied  plan 
By  which  they  hoped,  if  Fate  propitious  dealt, 

To  leave  the  islet — 'scape  the  girding  ban 

Which  here  inclosed  them  since  they  chanced  to  scan 
Its  rock-girt  shores  ;  but  every  project  failed, 

Till  one  Ki  Lang,  an  old,  experienced  man, 
Who  on  the  junk  as  tiller- man  had  sailed, 
Bade  them  a  pinnace  build,  and  over  all  prevailed. 


22 


By  Ki  Lang  led,  they  to  the  forest  went, 

And  there  a  craft  to  build  with  ardor  fell  ; 
Four  weary  months,  upon  the  work  intent, 
They  tireless  wrought,  until  at  length  the  shell 
Into  a  pinnace  rose.     This,  launching  well, 
Swam  like  a  gull  upon  the  sea-green  tide  ; 

And  now  their  grief  they  did  with  hope  dispel- 
To  leave  the  island  joyfully  decide, 
And  soon  across  the  wave  their  little  vessel  guide. 


22  NAT  ZOAN. 


23 


Once  more  afloat,  the  roving  men  pursue 

Their  wonted  course  across  the  heaving  main, 

Rejoiced  to  bid  the  desert  isle  adieu 
And  feel  the  freedom  of  the  seas  again, 
Free  as  the  winds  that  own  no  curbing  rein. 

Southeast  they  stretch  toward  Borneo's  sultry  shores — 
Those  sultry  shores  to  many  a  crew  the  bane, 

Where  death-engendering  mist  insiduous  soars, 

And  Dyak,  plunder-bent,  the  stranded  bark  explores. 


24 


Again  at  large,  Nat  Zoan  wandering  drifts 

Like  a  sad  waif  upon  the  cheerless  deep, 
While  as  he  floats  the  fateful  curtain  lifts, 

And  direful  scenes  in  black  procession  sweep  ; 

But  him  in  safety  still  the  angels  keep, 
Obedient  to  that  Power  which  all  obey. 

So  through  the  night,  whilst  we  are  lockt  in  sleep, 
The  holy  spirits  near  our  pillows  stay 
And  watch,  while  we  inert — while  we  defenceless  lay. 


w 

OF  THB 


UNIVERSIT 


NAT  ZOAN.  23 


Oh,  blessed  spirits,  by  a  Sovereign  kind 

Sent  from  your  beauteous  homes  to  mortals  base 
To  guard  the  world,  while  we  in  sleep  reclined 

Feel  not  the  presence  of  your  sacred  race ; 

Oh,  lovely  angels  !  how  endowed  with  grace 
Are  ye  to  shield  so  vile  a  thing  as  man — 

To  quit  your  shining  thrones  and  o'er  him  place 
Your  saintly  guarding  forms.     Oh,  wondrous  plan  ! 
Mete  attribute  of  Him  who  all  with  love  doth  scan. 


26 


But  while  the  sailor  held  his  devious  way, 
The  shade  of  sadness  Memory  o'er  him  shed, 

And  oft  a  voice  in  whispers  seemed  to  say 
That  in  the  future,  ever  charged  with  dread, 
Affliction  marked  the  path  he  was  to  thread  ; 

A  still  small  voice,  as  that  Elijah  heard 
When  he  an  outcast  unto  Horeb  fled, 

When  'gainst  the  Lord  the  peevish  man  demurred, 

Till  taught  by  wondrous  works  how  wofully  he  erred. 


24  NAT  ZOAN. 


27 


A  voice  like  that  which  smote  the  Tishbite's  soul 
Unto  Nat  Zoan  oft  presaging  spoke  ; 

And  oft  in  visions  spectres  round  him  stole, 
And  nameless  terrors  in  his  bosom  woke, 
As  from  their  lips  portentous  warnings  broke, 

And  him  they  counselled  in  prophetic  tones 
His  present  aimless  journey  to  revoke  ; 

But  he,  persistent,  only  deeply  groans, 

And  his  predestined  fate  in  keenest  grief  bemoans. 


28 


So  must  he  on  :  the  ill-starred  lot  was  cast, 

And  he  in  vain  the  issue  may  rebate  ; 
Still  must  he  on,  though  perils  rise  to  ghast, 

And  various  sorrows  on  his  spirit  wait. 

No  rest  has  man  in  this  terrestrious  state  ; 
On  he  must  drive — to  peace  or  pause  unknown — 

Till  in  the  tomb  he  end  his  troubled  fate, 
Or  high  or  low  alike  in  sorrow  groan  ; 
Beggar  and  king  alike  the  equal  worm  must  own. 


NAT  ZOAN.  25 


29 


Death  levels  all  ;  he  pulls  the  tyrant  down 

And  casts  his  ashes  to  the  idle  wind, 
Mingling  with  those  of  the  unlettered  clown, 

Who  seemed  in  life  scarce  as  a  serf  designed, 

Or  fit  the  despot's  latchets  to  unbind. 
Death  levels  all ;  and  when  beneath  his  scythe 

All  in  one  sepulchre  decay  inclined, 
Fates  be  reversed  :  the  clown  in  regions  blithe 
Perpetual  joys  may  taste — in  pangs  the  tyrant  writhe. 


But  all  alike  a  resting  place  can  claim 

In  earth's  cold  bosom,  as  their  meed  at  last ; 

And  since  to  all  the  end  is  here  the  same, 
What  matters  it  how  low  our  lot  be  cast, 
Or  how  exalted  on  Fame's  lofty  mast 

We  stand,  the  beacon  of  admiring  eyes  ? 
Soon  as  we  fall,  like  some  gay  fancy  past, 

Forgotten  we  shall  sink,  while  others  rise 

To  fill  our  posts  and  seek  the  ever-fleeting  prize. 


26  NAT  ZOAN. 


31 


All  ends  in  naught ;  Time  bears  us  all  away, 
And  blots  our  actions  in  eternal  gloom  ; 

Great  men  who  flourished  yesterday,  to-day 
Corroding  lie  forgotten  in  the  tomb, 
Nor  leave  a  gap — for  instantly  their  room 

Is  filled  by  an  aspiring,  struggling  race. 

Ay,  even  bards  must  own  the  cankering  doom, 

And  mingle  in  the  dust  with  creatures  base, 

Though  years  all  vainful  strive  their  glories  to  efface. 


Still  the  cerulean  waves  the  pinnace  cleaves, 

While  countless  isles  her  veering  course  surround, 

And  as  Manoa's  reef  she  sternward  leaves, 
A  lonely  peak  with  golden  vapors  crowned 
Lifts  its  tall  head  amid  the  blue  profound. 

With  joy  the  wanderers  hail  that  goodly  hight, 
Since  it  the  tedious  voyage's  end  doth  bound  ; — 

So  Christian,  worn  with  his  unceasing  fight, 

Saw  Beulah's  smiling  hills  auspicious  greet  his  sight. 


NAT  ZOAN.  27 


33 


Still  on  the  pinnace  flies  ;  the  sunbeams  fade, 

And  azure  mists  across  the  waters  creep  ; 
Still  rising  high,  in  darker  hues  arrayed, 

That  lonely  peak  emerges  from  the  deep  ; —        , 

Keeney  Ballu  (4),  few»of  doomed  to  keep         f/+\,    $ 
Unending  wardship  o'er  the  glimmering  land, 

Where  as  the  winds  at  midnight  wildly  sweep, 
The  Dyak  dead  arise — a  ghostly  band — 
And  on  its  mighty  brow  in  shivering  terror  stand. 


34 


Yet  while  the  wanderers  hailed  the  lofty  cone, 
Beneath  whose  shadow  lay  their  destined  goal, 

Nat  Zoan's  spirits  owned  a  graver  tone, 
And  still  those  secret  voices  weirdly  stole 
In  boding  tones  upon  his  pensive  soul ; 

He  from  his  comrades  sadly  turned  away, 
With  his  dark  thoughts  in  silence  to  condole, 

And  musing  by  the  fading  evening  ray, 

His  dismal  fancy  did  through  scenes  distressful  stray. 


(4)     See  note. 


28  NAT  ZOAN. 


35 


But  as  he  mused,  the  breakers'  hollow  roar 

In  deeper  murmurs  from  the  island  swelled, 
As  currents  urged  the  pinnace  toward  the  shore, 

By  no  tenacious  wind  or  anchor  held  ; 

But  as  she  drives,  by  dread  of  wreck  impelled, 
Her  crew,  alert,  cast  out  the  rattling  chain  ; 

By  this  against  the  billowy  force  withheld, 
She  anchored  swings,  till  o'er  the  eastern  main 
Uprising  Dawn  alights  her  rosy  torch  again. 


"  Unmoor  ! "  Hocampi  cries  ;  his  comrades  all 
The  windlass  mann,  and  from  its  oozy  bed 

The  grimy  anchor  to  the  catheads  haul  ; 

Then  to  the  winds  the  matty  sails  they  spread, 
And  trim  their  course  by  Sipang's  distant  head. 

Fair  blow  the  winds — the  land  ere  noon  they  gain, 
And  Sarawak's  meandering  waters  thread, — 

With  laboring  oars  the  inland  voyage  maintain, 

Till  they  in  Kuchin  moor,  far  from  the  stormy  main. 


NAT  ZOAN.  29 


37 


Here  moored  they  pause  ;  the  weary  voyage  was  o'er- 

The  wished-for  port  they  now  at  ease  survey  ; 
Here  Hossein  lived,  whose  ruthless  power  before 

A  servile  race  in  deep  abasement  lay, 

And  him  as  master  tremblingly  obey. 
Here  he,  uncurbed,  his  cruel  sceptre  sways, 

And  marks  with  death  the  closing  of  each  day, 
Yet  not  one  vassal  dare  against  him  raise 
The  regicidal  hand,  and  end  the  monster's  days. 


Tyrant's  should  die  ;  not  by  the  gradual  lapse 
Of  passing  time,  which  all  of  earth  decays — 

But  by  the  quicker  stroke,  that  nerved  perhaps 
By  selfish  vengeance,  on  the  despot  preys, 
And  from  the  world  a  public  curse  conveys. 

What  is  the  man  who  calls  himself  a  king, 
That  he  with  awe  a  nation  should  amaze, 

When  like  an  offal  one  bold  hand  could  fling 

Him  to  the  loathsome  worm — a  foul,  corrupting  thing  ? 


30  NAT  ZOAN. 


39 


And  sooth  'tis  strange  that  thousands  of  brave  men 
Will  to  one  being  stoop  in  abject  fear — 

Will  shake  like  aspens  at  his  very  ken, 
And  to  his  words  as  oracles  give  ear, 
Fearful  lest  they  their  own  death-vollies  hear  ; 

Ay,  more — will  passive  stand,  when  at  his  frown 
A  host  of  victims  find  a  gory  bier, 

All  knockt  like  oxen  unresisting  down, 

Without  one  manly  blow  their  dying  throes  to  crown 


40 


Withal  at  intervals  a  hero  springs 

From  the  down-trodden  multitude  among, 
Whose  daring  soul  with  generous  ardor  rings, 

To  deadly  hate  by  deep  oppression  stung ; 

He  like  a  wolf  hath  on  the  tyrant  sprung, 
And  at  a  blow  avenged  a  groaning  race  : 

Oh,  glorious  man  !  whose  fame  with  deathless  tongue 
Should  ages  sing — who  in  his  pride  of  place 
Smites  down  the  king  as  he  would  smite  the  helot  base. 


NAT  ZOAN.  31 


Oh,  for  a  hate  such  as  Damiens  (5)  bore — 

Such  as  Chastel  (6)  with  endless  glory  crowned — 

That  here  upon  this  despot-ridden  shore 
A  glorious  regicide  might  now  be  found 
To  strike  the  oppressor  with  a  fatal  wound. 

One  will  like  theirs  would  liberate  a  land 

Long  in  the  coils  of  chains  tyrannic  bound — 

Its  power,  its  wealth,  its  glory  all  expand, 

And  hurl  from  life  a  fiend  whose  rage  none  can  withstand. 


42 


Nat  Zoan  lands  :  the  haughty  raja  seeks, 

In  council  seated  midst  a  glittering  band  ; 
But  smooth  this  day  his  humor,  soft  he  speaks, 

And  bids  the  sailor  welcome  to  his  land — 

Desiring  him  anon  to  take  command 
Of  a  fleet  prahu  as  a  pirate  built, 

Which  oft  on  many  a  circumjacent  strand 
Had  human  gore  in  battle's  ordeal  spilt ; 
Shuddering  the  sailor  hears,  loathing  such  fearful  guilt. 


(5)      (6)     See  note. 


32  NAT  ZOAN. 


43 


The  raja  scowled  ;  his  falcon  eye  discerned 
The  tumult  struggling  in  Nat  Zoan's  breast  ; 

At  once  to  "Wrath  his  joyous  humor  turned, 
Which  scarce  awhile  his  reason  could  arrest, 
While  sternly  he  the  wavering  man  addrest, 

And  charged  him  ere  the  morrow's  solar  ray 
Had  veiled  its  brightness  in  the  dusky  west, 

Decision  give  :  and  should  he  answer  nay, 

Low  in  the  dust  at  once  his  stripling  form  should  lay. 


44 


The  sailor  heard  :  in  anxious  haste  withdrew, 
And  rest  again  upon  the  pinnace  found, 

W^here  still  a  fragment  of  the  shipwreckt  crew 
Upon  the  deck  in  rest  enervate  bound, 
By  matty  awnings  shaded,  dozed  around. 

Here  too,  Hocampi,  the  Labuan  brave, 

Like  his  tired  comrades  lay  in  sleep  profound 

But  roused,  Nat  Zoan  calmly  to  him  gave 

The  story  of  his  visit  to  the  raja  grave. 


NAT  ZOAN.  33 


Hocampi  heard  :  that  evil-minded  man 

Would  fain  the  Christian  to  perdition  draw  ; 
Him  thus  advised,  ere  day  its  circuit  ran 

To  shun  by  flight  the  chieftain's  ruthless  law  ; 

(In  this  his  fatal  doom  the  fiend  foresaw,) 
For  he  did  hate  in  wild,  fanatic  zeal, 

As  mete  in  Moslem  with  all  creeds  at  war, 
Whoso  did  not  an  equal  faith  reveal, 
Or  scorned  the  turbaned  Seer,  whose  law  hath  no  appeal. (7) 


46 


Well-pleased,  Nat  Zoan  heard  the  Labuan's  speech, 
As  he  the  raja's  offer  loathed  to  take — 

And  vowed  that  ere  the  flaming  orb  should  reach 
The  western  rim,  he  would  the  isle  forsake, 
Or  sink  at  sea  or  perish  in  the  brake. 

So,  head -strong  bent,  all  reason  urged  was  vain — 
Though  life  itself  he  boldly  placed  at  stake — 

And  as  night  darkened  o'er  the  palm-girt  plain    ' 

A  Tanka  boatman  bore  him  to  the  open  main. 

(7)     See  note. 


34  NAT  ZOAN. 


47 


But  when  as  Dawn  upreared  his  lurid  crown 

And  flushed  the  curling  seas  with  crimson  light — 

When  from  his  cloudy  throne  Sipang  lookt  down 
On  that  lone  boat,  which  through  the  lingering  night 
With  steady  course  pursued  its  seaward  flight — 

Far  up  the  stream,  near  a  projecting  bend, 
A  fleet  of  war-junks  slowly  heave  in  sight ; 

Toward  the  retreating  skiff  their  prows  extend, 

And  from  their  bow-guns  oft  a  random  shot  they  send. 


"  Pursued  ! "  Nat  Zoan  cries  ;  "  the  curst  Malay 

Has  to  his  chief  made  my  defection  known — 
Has  led  his  hirelings  on  my  life  to  prey, 

And  every  hope  of  freedom  overthrown. 

May  Allah  curse  him  !     May  my  spirit  groan 
In  fires  Satanic,  feeling  endless  pain, 

If  the  dog  'scape  me,  though  I  stand  alone 
And  with  this  single  kris  the  strife  maintain  ; 
If  he  but  fall,  my  blood  shall  not  be  shed  in  vain." 


NAT  ZOAN.  35 


49 


With  gleaming  sword  all  naked  to  the  hilt, 
He  like  some  beast  enraged  in  fury  stood, 

As  roused  to  frenzy  by  the  blood  it  spilt, 
Still  longed  to  join  again  the  gory  feud 
And  in  fierce  battle  quench  its  fiery  mood. 

While  thus  at  bay,  the  boatman  spreads  the  sails 
And  toward  a  sheltering  cape  his  course  pursued, 

While  rising  blow  the  winds — the  chase  prevails, 

And  oft  a  threatening  shot  along  the  billow  wails. 


Nat  Zoan  saw,  and  for  the  event  prepared — 

Though  oft  he  scanned  the  looming  headland  o'er, 

Which  could  he  reach,  by  seas  upsurging  spared, 
A  refuge  he  might  find  upon  its  shore 
From  the  swart  crew  he  scudded  now  before. 

But  as  he  gazed  upon  the  snowy  line 

Of  surf  that  fiercely  'gainst  the  ledges  bore, 

He  every  hope  of  safety  did  resign — 

Resolved  upon  the  deep  to  meet  his  foes  condign. 


36  NAT  ZOAN. 


But  as  he  stood,  uncertain  how  to  act, 

A  leila  on  the  foremost  chaser  roared  ; 
The  fragile  mast,  in  splinters  rudely  hackt, 

Fell  with  its  sail  in  ruin  overboard — 

And  as  it  fell  a  second  salvo  poured 
From  the  bow-chaser  of  another  junk. 

The  Tanka-man,  sore  wounded,  aid  implored, 
And  weltering  in  his  gore,  in  terror  shrunk, 
While  down  the  yesty  waves  the  barge  slow-settling  sunk. 


But  still  Nat  Zoan  all-defiant  stood, 

And  nerved  with  hate  prepared  to  meet  his  foes  ; 
Ay,  fearless  stood,  though  welled  the  briny  flood 

Through  countless  leaks  no  present  skill  could  close — 

More  deadly  they  than  his  assailants'  blows  ; 
But  daring  all  his  kris  aloft  he  waves, 

For  at  oar's  length  the  first  pursuer  rose — 
Yet  the  dread  issue  Fate  opposing  staves, 
And  him  from  seeming  death  with  gracious  mercy  saves. 


NAT  ZOAN.  37 


53 


A  surging  billow  breaks  against  the  wreck, 
And  o'er  it  casts  a  foaming  sheet  of  spray, 

In  which  at  random  urged,  a  floating  speck, 
Drifts  a  lone  waif  upon  the  watery  way- 
All  that  the  searching  eye  may  now  survey 

Of  the  lost  boat,  which  thus  so  sudden  found 
A  tomb  amid  the  deep,  unsheltered  bay  ; 

Nor  it  alone — its  fated  owner  drowned, 

Among  its  ruins  slept  upon  the  ocean-ground. 


54 


Nat  Zoan  rose — he  like  a  cork  could  swim — 

And  bouyant  floated  on  the  heaving  main, 
While  the  exultant  foes  surrounding  him 

Made  all  his  efforts  at  resistance  vain  ; 

Though  still  his  kris,  girt  by  its  silver  chain, 
To  his  wrist  hung,  despite  the  breaking  surge — 

But  useless  now,  it  might  as  well  have  lain 
On  the  tall  mount  that  edged  the  eastern  verge, 
For  he,  exhausted  quite,  no  more  the  brand  could  urge. 


38  NAT  ZOAN. 


55 


Him  to  the  foremost  junk  the  Dyaks  drew, 

And  firmly  on  the  deck  with  fetters  bound  ; 
To  Kuchin  then  their  homeward  course  pursue, 

Exulting  that  success  the  venture  crowned. 

And  when  at  length  their  mooring  place  they  found, 
The  luckless  captive  far  inland  they  bore — 

The  glebe  to  delve  and  toil  in  ceaseless  round, 
As  Hossein's  bounden  servant  evermore — 
A  friendless  outcast  on  this  isolated  shore. 


It  was  a  lovely  spot  where  he,  immured, 

His  arduous  task  each  circling  day  pursued — 
A  vernal  plain  by  pathless  woods  secured, 

With  gorgeous  flowers  and  tufted  grasses  strewed  ; 

Where  stately  palms  the  spicy  breezes  wooed, 
And  o'er  the  mead  continual  tributes  flung. 

A  beauteous  place,  where  hearts  with  grief  endued 
Might  comfort  find  the  soothing  scenes  among — 
Such  scenes  hath  Persia's  bard  in  strains  immortal  sung. 


NAT  ZOAN.  39 


57 


O'er  all  there  breathed  a  dream  of  hallowed  ease, 
Unbroken  save  by  drone  of  purling  rills, 

Or  chirp  of  bird,  or  hum  of  flitting  bees, 

Or  slaves  vociferous  on  the  palm-crowned  hills, 
Or  campanero's  voice  with  silvery  trills, 

Sweet-warbling  from  the  groves'  dark  solitude — 
Or  that  mysterious  sound  the  ear  enthrills 

When  Nature  broods,  in  slumber's  spell  imbued, 

And  seems  each  mystic  pause  with  spirit  tones  endued. 


Each  scene  to  pensive  languishment  inclined, 

And  lulled  each  sense  in  sweetly-soothing  rest — 
A  witching  music  trilled  upon  the  wind, 

And  on  the  soul  a  tender  shade  imprest. 

A  spot  in  sooth  it  was  by  nature  blest — 
Here  man  the  joys  of  Aden  might  foretaste 

Were  he  with  no  corrosive  guile  distrest, 
And  of  those  godlike  attributes  defaced, 
Which  in  a  sinless  age  the  first  of  mortals  graced. 


40  NAT  ZOAN. 


59 


But  Sin  here  spread  its  ever-blighting  shade, r\ 

And  filled  the  goodly  scene  with  endless  woe/ — 
The  captives'  sighs  these  cloudless  skies  invade, 

And  o'er  these  meads  the  tears  of  sorrow  flow  ; 

These  palms  full  many  a  tale  of  anguish  know — 
Oft  have  they  seen  the  victim  doomed  to  bleed, 

The  toiler  writhe  beneath  the  master's  blow — 
By  piecemeal  die  to  swell  a  tyrant's  greed, 
And  with  his  closing  breath  for  mercy  vainly  plead. 


60 


Yet  in  this  lovely,  calm,  secluded  haunt 

A  fairy  being  in  seclusion  dwelt 
From  crowds  aloof  ;  nor  voice  had  she  to  vaunt 

Her  glowing  charms  ;  nor  yet  her  bosom  felt 

Those  tender  pangs  that  hearts  of  maidens  melt. 
A  child  of  nature,  still  untoucht  by  love, 

Her  guileless  mind  with  themes  ethereal  dealt — 
Pure  as  the  skies  that  brightly  shone  above, 
Sweet  as  the  dreams  that  soothe  the  breast  of  turtle-dove. 


NAT  ZOAN.  41 


61 


And  such  Oloa — Hossein's  favored  child — 

Whom  he  with  jealous  care  had  here  concealed, 

A  sweet  exotic  in  the  woodland  wild. 

Here,  like  the  flowers  that  bloomed  upon  the  field, 
To  Nature's  eye  alone  her  charms  revealed — 

Charms  which  with  those  of  Aden's  nymphs  might  vie, 
And  soon  ordained  a  mighty  power  to  wield  ; 

At  soft  affection's  shrine  an  offering  lie, 

And  mix  with  wildering  joy  the  soul-depressing  sigh. 


62 


Love  o'er  all  hearts  his  tender  influence  flings, 
And  tempers  them  in  an  enduring  fire  ; 

Beggars  his  power  confess,  as  well  as  kings — 
But  fellest  he  to  those  who  strike  the  lyre, 
Whose  souls  sublimed  with  an  emotion  higher 

Than  such  as  doth  the  lower  race  infuse, 
Love  with  a  loftier,  warmer,  fixed  desire 

Than  those  whose  souls  a  coarser  vein  imbues, 

And  scape  the  shafts  that  gall  the  children  of  the  muse. 


42  NAT  ZOAN. 


By  love  impelled,  melodious  Orpheus  led 

His  wandering  steps  to  Pluto's  gloomy  shore — 

There  sought  his  bride  among  the  ghostful  dead, 
And  from  his  harp,  which  minstrel-like  lie  bore, 
Bade  mournful  strains  the  darkened  vault  explore. 

Those  mournful  strains  the  ghosts  in  sorrow  bound, 
Touched  by  a  music  never  heard  before, 

Like  the  grim  tyrant  saddened. at  each  sound, 

In  dumb  amazement  shook  at  anguish  so  profound. 


64 


Musaaus  too,  who  on  the  Athenian  strand 
The  Queen  of  Night  a  glorious  tribute  laid — 

Smote  his  resounding  lyre  with  nervous  hand 
And  hymned  the  praises  of  the  Theban  maid, 
Whose  glance  his  heart  in  deepest  grief  arrayed. 

Sadly  his  passion  sang  ;  his  tones  prevail — 
With  equal  grief  the  maiden's  heart  invade  ; 

Pensive,  she  bids  him  hush  the  plaintive  tale, 

And  from  her  gentle  love  celestial  brightness  hail. 


NAT  ZOAN.  43 


65 


Love,  Tasso's  heart  with  withering  fire  consumed, 

And  marked  his  days  with  unavailing  tears  ; 
Petraca's  sun  to  cheerless  shadow  doomed, 

And  dimmed  the  lustre  of  Camoen's  years. 

To  minstrel  souls  the  god  a  curse  appears ; 
Ay,  that  majestic  bard,  by  Heaven  sent, 

Whose  genius  like  a  meteor  still  careers — 
E'en  Byron's  haughty  soul  in  anguish  bent, 
By  Love's  resistless  will  with  countless  horrors  shent. 


66 


Yes,  all  have  loved  ;  nor  scathless  pass  the  fair, 
Though  softer  fires  their  gentler  natures  feel  : 

Those  burning  throes  which  sterner  beings  share, 
Through  their  soft  breasts  in  smoother  currents  steal, 
And  in  their  hearts  to  mild  respect  congeal. 

Unlike  the  hardier  race  whom  passion  sways, 
Love  rarely  woe  to  them  can  bring,  or  weal ; 

Rarely  their  souls  to  joy  ecstatic  raise, 

Or  plunged  in  funeral  grief  o'ercast  their  sunless  days. 


44  NAT  ZOAN. 


67 


Yet  some  there  are  of  womankind,  who  love 
With  all  the  ardor  of  impassioned  souls — 

Who  lift  the  chosen  idol  far  above 
All  that  this  sublunary  state  controls, 
And  as  the  globe  on  ceaseless  axle  rolls, 

So  their  affection  never  has  an  end. 
Each  as  a  god  the  cherished  one  extols, 

And  to  his  will  submissively  doth  bend — 

Or  hazard  death  if  him  she  can  from  ill  defend. 


68 


And  chief  among  this  winsome  sisterhood 
The  raja's  daughter,  fair  Oloa,  reigned  ; 

Since  first  her  star-like  eyes  Nat  Zoan  viewed, 
Had  love  her  soul  in  mystic  influence  chained 
And  all  her  thoughts  in  one  direction  trained. 

Twas  one  calm  eve,  when  by  the  glimmering  light 
He  homeward  toiled,  with  arduous  labor  pained, 

That  she  beneath  a  cassia,  hid  from  sight, 

First  saw  the  pensive  man  and  rued  his  hapless  plight. 


NAT  ZOAN.  45 


69 


And  then  it  chanced  that  as  she  gazed  on  him, 
A  lengthened  hiss  vibrated  near  her  side  ; 

Shrieking  she  turned,  and  from  the  covert  dim 
A  mighty  serpent  saw  meandering  glide, 
With  head  erect  and  jaws  extended  wide — 

While  flashed  his  eyes  of  deep  vermillion  red, 
And  fierce  his  glance  as  the  fair  prey  he  eyed — 

That  glance  which  held  her  fast  in  spell-bound  dread, 

Till  statue-like  she  stood,  all  sense  of  feeling  fled. 


70 


In  horror  dazed,  nailed  to  the  spot  she  stood 
Beneath  the  spell  of  those  mesmeric  eyes — 

For  these  huge  monsters  of  the  python  brood 
Are  armed  with  powers  that  vainly  man  defies, 
Which  yield  him  oft  a  helpless  sacrifice  ; 

On  whom  soe'er  they  fix  their  baneful  glance, 
Less  help  besteads,  a  willing  victim  dies  : 

Their  gaze,  magnetic,  every  sense  enchants — 

Dispels  all  fear,  and  lulls  the  soul  in  dream-like  trance. 


46  NAT  ZOAN. 


But  from  the  maid  one  piercing  cry  arose, 
And  roused  Nat  Zoan  from  his  reverie  ; 

With  agile  bound  unto  her  aid  he  goes, 
And  boldly  dares  the  hideous  enemy — 
Her  bent  to  save,  whate'er  his  fate  might  be. 

Then  from  his  belt  a  Sum-pi-tan  (8)  he  drew, 
And  trained  the  reed  with  skillful  energy — 

Applied  his  lip,  then  toward  the  serpent  flew, 

And  from  his  lusty  lungs  a  breath  tremendous  blew. 


72 


Sure  was  his  aim — outsped  the  subtle  dart, 
Whose  barb  the  dew  of  deathful  ipo  stained  ; 

Fateful  it  sped,  and  smote  in  vital  part 

The  fearful  monster,  and  his  rage  restrained — 
Numbed  with  the  venomed  death  the  shaft  contained  ; 

No  longer  gliding  o'er  the  crackling  brake 

His  rapid  course  the  serpent  huge  maintained, 

But  prone  at  length  his  coils  spasmodic  shake, 

And  frantic  throes  the  woods'  resounding  echoes  wake. 


(8)     See  note. 


OF  THB 

UNIVERSIT 


NAT  ZOAN.  47 


73 


Ere  long  the  deadly  venom  through  his  veins     > 

Corrosive  swept  upon  its  errand  dire, 
And  whilst  he  raged  in  death's  convulsive  pains, 

Sudden  he  gaspt,  and  quivering  did  expire. 

So  falls  the  palm  when  struck  by  lightning-fire — 
So  on  the  sward  its  ponderous  length  is  laid, 

Ne'er  more  to  rise,  with  vernal  life  aspire 
And  tower  the  lofty  monarch  of  the  shade, 
But  low  it  sinks  in  dust,  as  all  of  earth  must  fade. 


74 


Meanwhile  Nat  Zoan,  freed  from  evil  strife — 

The  python  numb — gazed  on  the  beauteous  maid, 

Who  still  enchanted,  caring  naught  for  life, 
A  frozen  image  near  the  monster  stayed, 
Hard  by  a  spring,  beneath  a  plane-tree's  shade ; 

And  soon  her  steadfast  glance  the  sailor's  gaze 
Drew  from  the  serpent,  now  quiescent  laid. 

O'er  her  sweet  charms  his  eye  delighted  strays, 

And  moth-like  o'er  each  starry  orb  all  fluttering  plays. 


48  NAT  ZOAN. 


75 


While  thus  he  gazed  upon  her  lovely  face 
A  tender  interest  kindled  in  his  breast, 

For  heavenly  beauty  had  with  magic  grace 
Its  signet  on  each  rounded  line  imprest, 
And  with  attractive  power  the  maiden  blest. 

Then,  as  her  eyes  with  jasper  light  imbued, 
On  his  with  mingled  awe  and  joy  did  rest, 

He  felt  his  soul  awake — half-crazed  he  viewed, 

And  deemed  to  Aden  turned  the  tangled  solitude. 


As  bronze  engilded  by  the  setting  sun, 

Her  skin  gave  forth  a  mystic  shining  light — 

A  lustre  known  but  to  these  people  dun, 
Where  wheels  the  Disk  his  equatorial  flight, 
Glazing  to  gold  or  shading  into  night. 

Strange  was  her  hue,  yet  wondrous  to  behold — 
Her  beauty  matchless,  ravishing  the  sight, 

Nor  fairer  shell  did  lovelier  soul  infold, 

For  cast  she  truly  seemed  in  nature's  perfect  mould. 


NAT  ZOAN.  49 


77 


And  dark  her  eyes  as  hyperborean  shade 

When  midnight  drops  her  deepest  curtain  down — 

A  tone  intense,  with  phosphor  beams  inlaid, 
Akin  to  those  which  on  eve's  dusky  crown 
In  glittering  radiance  flash.  Of  ebon  brown 

Her  locks  elf-like  in  festoons  swept  the  ground 
In  wanton  richness,  seeming  bent  to  drown 

Her  sylphine  form,  so  thick  they  clustered  round  ; 

Yet  chief  of  all  her  charms,  her  eyes  did  most  astound. 


There  is  a  wondrous  strength  in  woman's  eye — 
A  strength  which  man,  alas  !  cannot  withstand 

When  Love's  electric  glances  from  it  fly, 
Like  bolts  dismissed  by  an  immortal  hand, 
Black  ruin  casting  where  e'er  they  expand. 

The  softest  glance  the  sternest  bosom  thrills 
With  tumults  Reason  vainly  can  withstand ; 

New  hopes,  new  thoughts,  new  joys,  new  griefs  instills, 

And  man  with  heavenly  bliss  or  hellish  sorrow  fills. 


50  NAT  ZOAN. 


79 


But  most  in  eyes  of  raven-colored  hue 

Exists  this  subtle  power,  this  mystic  spell — 
As  if  from  them  a  spirit-shape  lookt  through 

And  bound  the  gazer's  soul  invincible. 

In  this  all  other  colors  they  excel ; 
All  other  shades  a  will  less  potent  own — 

Grey  orbs  mayhap  of  minds  sagacious  tell, 
The  azure-hued  are  scarce  with  passion  flown, 
Cold  are  the  hazel-eyed  as  monumental  stone. 


80 


But  ebon  orbs  with  torrid  passion  glow — 

The  windows  they  whence  deep  affection  shines, 
Which  steadfast  burns  whatever  tempests  blow, 

And  to  one  object  steadily  inclines  ; 

Round  the  loved  idol  as  the  ivy  twines 
The  solid  oak,  enwreaths  with  changeless  fold, 

Nor  but  when  chilled  in  secret  grief  repines. 
Such  love,  alas  !  not  often  we  behold, 
Yet  such  there  was  in  one  my  harp  hath  oft  extolled. 


NAT  ZOAN. 


81 


One  whose  sea-urn  is  now  my  only  shrine, 
Where  all  I  worship  rests  in  endless  gloom, 

Forgotten  save  by  this  lone  heart  of  mine, 
That  sighs  its  sad  oblations  o'er  her  tomb — 
And  so  will  sigh,  till  hushed  in  equal  doom 

It  sinks  in  earth,  unsignalled  and  unknown — 
Another  atom  vanished  to  make  room 

For  some  new  pilgrim,  haply  doomed  to  groan, 

And  for  the  boon  of  life  with  constant  pangs  atone. 


82 


Oloa's  eyes  upon  Nat  Zoan  glanced, — 

Those  star-like  eyes,  where  glowing  passion  beamed, 
With  hectic  pangs  his  heaving  bosom  lanced, 

Till  in  delirium  lost  his  spirit  seemed 

Some  heavenly  vision  to  have  sweetly  dreamed. 
Such  Love's  effect  when  Beauty's  radiant  grace 

Hath  on  a  mortal  like  an  angel  gleamed  ; 
Nor  time  nor  turmoil  can  its  stamp  erase — 
It  haunts  his  dragging  hours  till  death  his  pangs  efface. 


52  NAT  ZOAN. 


Nat  Zoan  spoke  :  his  voice  like  music  fell 
In  silvery  accents  on  the  maiden's  ear, 

As  he  confest  the  soul-bewildering  spell 

Her  beauties — now,  alas  !  to  him  so  dear — 
Had  on  his  senses  cast.     But  she  in  fear 

(For  fear  doth  oft  the  virgin's  passion  show) 

Begged  him  be  mute — yet  strangely  hovered  near, 

And  coyly  heard  his  words  in  murmurs  flow, 

Or,  downward  gazing,  oft  a  sigh  resounded  low. 


But  as  she  plead  a  shout  re-echoed  round, 
And  lo,  among  the  palms  a  gaudy  train 

Of  courtiers  press.     With  hasty  steps  they  bound 
Across  the  sward,  while  Hossein  first  to  gain 
The  eventful  spot,  with  frenzied  joy  amain 

His  daughter  folds  to  his  paternal  breast. 
Him  had  a  slave,  who  overtasked  had  lain 

Fatigued  beneath  a  palm,  set  out  to  quest, 

And  shivering  to  his  lord  the  hideous  tale  addrest. 


NAT  ZOAN.  53 


With  the  warm  impulse  of  unsullied  love 

Aged  Hossein  fiercely  clasped  his  much-loved  child, 
And  gazing  on  the  azure  vault  above, 

To  Allah  poured  his  gratulations  wild  ; 

His  prayers  done,  he  on  Nat  Zoan  smiled, 
And  pressed  his  hand  in  friendship's  fervid  zeal  : 

Bemoaned  his  lot — from  his  own  land  exiled, 
And  forced  the  crushing  weight  of  toil  to  feel 
Beneath  unclouded  skies,  where  suns  malignant  wheel. 


86 


"  Brave  man,"  said  he,  "  thou  hast  our  daughter  saved, 

And  in  return  full  liberty  is  thine  ; 
Thy  gallant  act,  too,  on  our  archives  graved, 

Shall  to  remotest  time  illustrious  shine  ; 

Nor  this  alone  :  we  furthermore  design 
To  show  the  goodness  of  our  royal  will, 

And  our  best  prahu  shall  to  thee  resign, 
To  own  thy  rule  and  thy  unequalled  skill— 
Where  e'er  thou  wouldst  shalt  roam,  and  thy  behests  fulfill." 


54  NAT  ZOAN. 


Nat  Zoan  heard  :  in  courteous  tones  replied, 
Wistful  the  tyrant's  mandate  to  evade — 

"Almighty  chief,  whom  Allah  ever  guide, 
Thou  hast  in  sooth  a  goodly  offer  made, 
And  by  this  act  the  service  done  repaid  ; 

Yet  ere  my  course  I  can  decide  aright — 

Though  in  all  things  thy  will  should  be  obeyed — 

Yet  grant  a  respite  till  the  morrow's  night 

Ere  I  thy  boon  receive,  oh  man  of  boundless  might." 


"  Thou  hast  it,  or  forsooth  a  longer  time, 
And  shall  the  while  within  our  palace  dwell, 

Of  all  our  noble  guests  the  acknowledged  prime — 
Whose  name  likewise  the  trump  of  Fame  shall  swell, 
Thou  the  brave  Jower  (9)  of  power  invincible  ! 

Away  bold  man  !     Hocampi  hence  shall  guide 
Thy  footsteps  through  the  dark  entangled  fell 

To  Kassim's  walls,  a-nigh  the  river's  side, 

There  at  thy  leisure  on  our  offering  to  decide." 

(9)     See  note. 


NAT  ZOAN.  55 


89 


He  spoke  :  imperious  waved  his  jewelled  hand, 
Then  bade  his  train  pursue  their  onward  way, 

For  now  upon  the  deeply-devious  land 
Gleamed  the  last  blushes  of  expiring  day, 
And  dim  the  path  through  the  dark  forest  lay. 

Yet  sad,  Oloa  turned  amid  the  gloom, 
And  often  paused,  as  willing  still  to  stay — 

As  chained  to  him  who  from  a  hideous  doom 

Herself  had^Saved  and  bade  new  joy  her  life  illume. 


90 


With  her  she  bore  a  relic  of  the  deed — 

The  sum-pi-tan  from  whence  the  arrow  sped 
Which  did  the  serpent's  forward  course  impede, 

And  save  her  from  impending  danger  dread. 

Nat  Zoan  saw,  and  in  the  action  read 
A  language  which  of  tender  passion  spoke, 

And  o'er  his  soul  a  fair  aurora  shed  ; 
The  mists  that  round  him  hung,  dispersing  broke, 
And  he  to  newer  life,  to  brighter  dreams  awoke. 


56  NAT  ZOAN. 


His  eyes  the  witching  maid  continual  sought, 

Till  the  thick  jungle  hid  her  from  his  view  ; 
Then  with  his  sullen  guide  immerst  in  thought, 

He  pushed  his  tortuous  way  the  forest  through, 

And  as  night  lowered  within  the  palace  drew. 
Meanwhile  Oloa,  in  disturbing  dreams, 

First  learned  the  pangs  of  earnest  love  to  rue  ; 

Feverish  she  slept — her  sleep  with  visions  teems, 

• 

And  in  each  wildering  scene  Nat  Zoan's  viuim  gleams.     I/V3 


CANTO    II. 


Ye  lithesome  winds  that  curl  the  sparkling  seas 

Which  o'er  Ascian's  strands  resounding  creep, 
Or  hoarsely  chant  in  solemn  melodies 

Around  the  bald  and  billow-breaking  steep  ; 

Oh,  winds,  however  high  or  low  ye  sweep, 
Still  of  soul-stirring  themes  responsive  sing — 

Still  o'er  grief-laden  love  pathetic  weep, 
As  when  ye  touch  the  sad  acolian  string, 
Or  moan  through  hollow  caves  like  sea-sprites  murmuring. 


93 


Lo,  from  her  fleecy  couch  the  pensive  moon, 
Pale  wanderer  of  the  night,  arising  glows, 

And  softly  from  her  melancholy  lune 

A  vagueful  light  upon  the  landscape  throws, 
While  silvery  clouds  a  heavenly  crown  compose. 

Oh  !  chaste,  pale-visaged  ornament  of  night, 
By  whom  the  main  in  endless  pulses  flows, 

Who  leadest  the  star-lights  in  nocturnal  flight — 

Thee  sadly  shall  I  hymn,  and  hail  thy  mystic  light. 


58  NAT  ZOAN. 


94 


How  oft  have  I  exultant  hailed  thy  ray, 
As  o'er  the  hazy  verge  it  mildly  shone — 

Beheld  thee  chase  the  obscuring  shades  away 
And  soften  nature  with  a  brighter  tone, 
Or  on  the  deep  descried  thy  fulgence  thrown  ; 

And  as  I  owned  its  spirit-soothing  power, 

Sad  memories  rose  of  dreams  forever  flown — 

The  gilded  fancies  of  a  fleeting  hour 

Passed  like  a  sunny  beam  beneath  a  shadow's  glower. 


95 


Thee  have  I  seen  in  state  majestic  rise 
Above  the  ocean,  like  me  desolate — 

Or  glare  terrific  from  portentous  skies/ 
The  lurid  harbinger  of  storms  that  wait 
With  gathered  powers  o'er  earth  to  culminate  ; 

Or  from  thy  waning  face  such  mildness  shed 
As  scarce  the  nightly  shade  to  dissipate 

Or  dim  the  glittering  legions  overhead, 

Or  on  the  drowsy  lake  a  skein  of  lustre  spread. 


NAT  ZOAN.  59 


96 


Oh,  amber-visaged  queen  !  by  whose  pale  ray 
The  love-sick  minstrel  strolling  oft  is  heard 

To  sadly  breathe  his  tuneful  roundelay, 

Soft  as  the  tone  night's  sweetly-singing  bird, 
When  by  thy  pensive  light  to  musie  stirred, 

The  echoing  wood  with  harmony  awakes  ; 
Or  sighs  in  sylvan  bower  the  tender  word 

Which  on  the  virgin's  ear  in  sweetness  breaks, 

And  with  electric  bliss  her  heart  vibrating  shakes. 


97 


Oft,  too,  by  thy  mild  beam  Nat  Zoan  wound 
His  stealthy  steps  through  the  entangled  glade, 

And  when,  inert,  the  world  lay  hushed  profound, 
He  with  Oloa  love's  sweet  power  obeyed, 
And  'neath  the  shaded  groves  in  secret  strayed ; 

While  from  his  lips  the  tones  of  passion  fell — 
Those  burning  tones  maids  rarely  will  evade. 

Around  her  heart  they  wove  a  magic  spell, 

And  chained  her  spotless  soul  in  love  unchangeable. 


6o  NAT  ZOAN. 


Meanwhile  he  to  the  raja's  wish  agreed, 

And  of  a  gallant  prahu  took  command — 
Renowned  among  the  fleet  for  strength  and  speed, 

And  by  a  bold  and  plunder-loving  band 

Of  Illanoan  ro\ers  ably  manned. 
This  o'er  the  surge  to  fiery  Celebez 

He  was  to  guide — assail  the  teeming  strand, 
And  from  the  natives  varied  treasures  seize, 
Or  stretch  for  nautic  spoils  wherever  urged  the  breeze 


99 


But  while  he  seemed  to  all  his  swarthy  crew 

Composed  and  on  his  ruthless  course  intent, 
His  conscience  proved  his  outward  mask  untrue, 

And  loathed  the  purpose  to  which  he  was  bent. 

So  doth  this  keen  avenger,  ever  sent 
As  the  stern  monitor  of  erring  man — 

Though  he  may  strive  its  will  to  circumvent — 
Derange,  ay,  oft  destroy  some  evil  plan, 
Or  crushed  unheeded  writhe  the  curse  of  his  life's  span. 


NAT  ZOAN.  6 1 


100 


Nat  Zoan  owned  its  counsels,  yet  applied 
The  usual  salve  of  shallow  sophistries 

Which  man,  who  would  all  but  himself  deride, 
Has  wrought,  the  weird  rebuking  sting  to  ease, 
And  drown  its  ever  sounding  homilies. 

By  logic  he  its  throbbings  partly  stilled, 
And  nerved  with  courage  all  his  energies  ; 

So  fate  resolved,  so  fate  must  be  fulfilled  : 

No  man  the  issue  swerves — he  moves  as  he  is  willed. 


101 


He  reasoned  well  :  there  is  a  ruling  power 

To  whose  decrees  all  in  obedience  bend  ; 
And  soon  Nat  Zoan  felt  the  tyrant's  glower 

Upon  his  fate  in  darkling  wrath  descend. 

It  was  the  night  on  which  he  did  intend 
To  stretch  away,  when  fiercely  from  the  west, 

As  drew  the  sultry  day  unto  an  end, 
A  mighty  gale  the  billowy  sea  distrest, 
And  on  the  ravaged  land  its  ruthless  seal  imprest. 


62  NAT  ZOAN. 


IO2 


He  wakeful  heard  the  elemental  rage 

At  midnight's  hour,  stretcht  on  his  rushy  cot, 
And  musing  on  such  themes  as  might  engage 

One  cast  in  his  eventful,  dangerous  lot ; 

A  sudden  thought,  seeming  from  Heaven  got, 
Urged  him  to  leave  this-  scene  of  war  and  woe, 

And  quiet  find  in  some  secluded  spot — 
Where  with  his  bride  he  life's  full  bliss  might  know, 
Nor  dread  each  moment's  space  the  deftly  murderous  blow. 


103 


Some  islet  seek — there  in  sequestered  ease, 

Secure  from  toil,  from  crafty  hate  secure, 
He  might  disown  the  tempest-roaring  seas 

And  all  the  ills  fate  bade  him  now  endure  ; 

There,  fenced  from  guilt,  of  plenty  ever  sure, 
His  peaceful  years  would  softly  circle  round — 

Nor  grim  ambition  to  destruction  lure, 
Nor  glory  tempt  with  laurels  sorrow-crowned, 
But  simple  joys  be  his,  in  sweet  contentment  found. 


NAT  ZOAN.  63 


104 


He  pondered  deeply  on  this  mystic  thought 

For  lingering  hours  on  that  tempestuous  night, 
Veering  in  doubt,  till  morn  decision  brought, 

And  cheered  his  spirit  with  auspicious  light. 

Then  he  resolved,  though  perilous  the  flight, 
Swart  Hossein's  tyrant  service-  to  forsake, 

And  with  Oloa — if  all  fared  aright — 
In  Sooloo's  Isle  his  secret  dwelling  make  ; 
His  purpose  formed  no  power  its  rigid  force  could  shake. 


105 


The  winds  are  wild — convulsed  the  murky  air, 
And  stooping  clouds  in  blackened  masses  scud  ; 

Red-glancing  bolts  across  the  heavens  glare, 
And  rains  descend  a  .deluge-pouring  flood, 
While  mighty  trees  and  many  a  fragile  bud 

Upon  the  land  in  prostrate  ruin  lie, 

Trembling  as  launching  forth  in  echoing  thud, 

The  thundrous  peals  vibrate  along  the  sky — 

And  roars  the  deep,  whose  rage  the  cliffs  can  scarce  defy. 


64  NAT  ZOAN. 


1 06 


On  such  a  night,  when  horrors  bristle  round, 
With  cautious  feet  Nat  Zoan  threads  the  brake, 

Nor  heeds  the  tempest's  soul-appalling  sound, 
Nor  riven  trees  that  o'er  him  wildly  shake, 
Nor  lightning  flash,  nor  thundering  rolls  that  wake 

The  caverned  earth  and  wrench  the  vaulted  skies ; 
Not  these  can  make  his  hardy  spirit  quake, 

Which  tried  in  peril,  can  o'er  peril  rise, 

And  from  his  gallant  heart  all  terror  exorcise. 


107 


Albeit,  as  he  kept  his  cheerless  way 

A  nameless  sadness  o'er  his  spirit  lowered, 
And  a  still  voice  forewarning  bade  him  stay, 

Nor  hold  a  path  where  danger  grimly  towered  ; 

For  should  he  thus,  by  passion  overpowered, 
His  present  wild  and  desperate  course  pursue, 

On  his  devoted  head  be  terrors  showered, 
And  hideous  pangs  which  he  would  sadly  rue — 
But  he  the  warning  stilled,  nor  course  but  onward  knew. 


NAT  ZOAN.  65 


108 


He  reached  at  length  Oloa's  lone  retreat, 

And  paused  to  list  if  aught  his  steps  betrayed  ; 

But  all  was  still — though  wild  the  tempest  beat, 
And  scowled  the  skies  in  vapors  black  arrayed, 
Save  when  the  lurid  fires  across  them  played. 

But  naught  was  heard  to  show  his  presence  known — 
No  stranger  trenched  within  his  ambuscade  ; 

He  stood  amid  the  stormy  gloom  alone, 

Eager  to  grasp  the  stake  on  which  his  life  was  thrown. 


109 


But  sudden  on  his  ear  there  broke  a  sound 

Which  shook  his  spirit  with  emotion  strange, 
And  him  in  terror  caused  to  gaze  around, 

And  with  more  cautious  steps  the  forest  range ; 

Yet  ere  his  fixed  position  he  could  change, 
Or  draw  with  rapid  hand  his  trusty  blade, 

That  sound  which  did  his  gallant  soul  derange, 
Entombed  amid  the  tempest's  murmurs  laid — 
Yet  still  upon  his  mind  dark  apprehension  preyed. 


66  NAT  ZOAN. 


no 


But  reckless  still,  his  scheme  he  must  pursue — 
His  fate  was  sealed  were  he  to  hesitate  ; 

This  he  too  surely,  half-repenting,  knew— 
Foresaw  his  peril,  but  foresaw  too  late, 
No  will  of  his  his  course  could  now  rebate  ; 

Assured  of  this,  he  bowed  to  the  decree 
That  mortal  plans  doth  sternly  regulate — 

That  overrules  the  things  that  are  to  be, 

And  whirls  man  ever  on  to  fore-doomed  destiny. 


in 


Nat  Zoan  paused  ;  an  oaten  pipe  he  took 

From  his  waist-belt,  and  three  times  shrilly  blew  ; 

Scarce  died  the  sounds — his  heart  expectant  shook — 
When  a  small  hand  the  jalousy  withdrew, 
And  a  sweet  face,  half-veiled,  gazed  coyly  through. 

"Art  thou  Oloa?"  he  in  whispers  cried, 

As  toward  the  opened  window-screen  he  flew  ; 

A  silvery  voice  unto  his  words  replied, 

And  on  his  panting  breast  the  raja's  daughter  sighed. 


NAT  ZOAN.  67 


112 


Oh,  blissful  hour  !  when  in  communion  sweet, 
Two  kindred  souls  in  love  congenial  taste 

That  heavenly  joy,  for  more  than  mortals  mete  ; 
When  for  a  time,  all  thought  of  earth  effaced, 
The  soul  seems  in  celestial  realms  placed — 

On  wings  aerial  floats,  while  choirs  unseen, 

With  mystic  strains  as  Nature's  waking  graced, 

Rise  like  sweet  incense  every  look  between, 

Till  joys  ecstatic  fill  the  soul-bewildering  scene. 


How  blissful  they  to  those  whose  destinies 
Have  felt  malignant  stars  upon  them  gleam— 

Whose  hearts,  o'ercast  with  sumless  miseries, 

Make  life  one  long,  one  sad,  one  hopeless  dream  : 
Forsaken  souls,  o'er  whom  no  cheering  beam, 

No  ray  of  love  the  lowering  gloom  dispels — 
As  on  the  tide  of  life's  tumultuous  stream, 

Like  shattered  wrecks  on  ocean's  troubled  swells, 

They  groaning  toss  in  pangs  of  self-created  hells. 


68  NAT  ZOAN. 


114 


Nat  Zoan  clasped  Oloa  in  his  arms, 

And  from  her  lips  delicious  tributes  wrung  ; 

Soothed  with  soft  words  her  spirits'  dark  alarms, 
And  round  her  trembling  form  his  caftan  flung — 
Then  bade  her  haste  ;  she  from  the  window  sprung, 

And  with  her  lover  trod  the  open  glade, 

Intent  a  creek  to  reach,  where  anchored  hung 

A  fleet  prahu,  by  whose  obedient  aid 

The  sailor  had  resolved  their  flight  should  be  essayed. 


But  as  the  lovers  reached  the  streamlet's  marge 
A  bullet  past  them  from  the  jungle  pealed, 

And  ere  the  echoes  from  the  explosive  charge 
In  silence  died,  a  figure  stood  revealed, 
And  a  hoarse  voice  bade  the  bold  sailor  yield. 

Nat  Zoan  paused,  o'ercome  with  horror  dread — 
For  now  his  fate  seemed  past  a  venture  sealed, 

Though  grimly  he  resolved  to  strike  till  dead, 

And  doom  more  than  one  ghost  the  shadeful  realms  to  thread. 


NAT  ZOAN.  69 


116 


He  gazed  around  :  the  wood  with  foemen  teemed  ; 

No  hope  against  such  numbers  vast  to  stand — 
Yet  he  must  strive  ;  his  kris  all  naked  gleamed, 

And  'gainst  a  towering  palm  he  met  the  band, 

Nerving  with  vigorous  strength  his  skillful  hand. 
Then  onward  rushed,  as  wolves  upon  their  prey 

The  yelling  horde,  whose  rage  Hocampi  fanned 
And  fiercely  hounded  to  the  unequal  fray — 
Bat  firm  the  sailor  stood  and  kept  them  all  at  bay. 


117 


Meanwhile  Oloa,  in  oblivion's  chain, 

Unconscious  on  the  humid  sward  reclined — 

And  her  to  seize  the  Dyaks  strove  in  vain, 

For  all  who  sought,  Nat  Zoan's  blade  assigned 
To  gory  graves,  as  brave  men  often  find. 

Then  grew  the  combat  hot ;  the  sailor's  kris, 
Begrimed  with  blood,  to  every  point  inclined  ; 

Each  lightning  stroke  dismissed  a  soul  from  this 

To  that  unknown  abode  of  mingled  pain  and  bliss. 


yo  NAT  ZOAN. 


118 


But  e'en  the  boldest  efforts  of  the  brave, 

O'ermatched,  against  less  gallant  souls  will  fail ; 
Repose  the  long-taxed  energies  too  crave, 

Or  strength  at  last  o'er  courage  will  prevail. 

So  our  bold  sailor,  though  he  scorned  to  quail, 
Yet  wearied  craved  the  nervine  of  repose — 

For  strokes  on  strokes  upon  him  rattling  hail, 
And  undiminished  throng  his  tigrish  foes, 
Till  gashed  with  countless  wounds  he  sank  beneath  their  blows- 


119 


Then  bathed  in  his  own  blood  he  prostrate  lay, 

Yet  struggling  madly  on  the  grimy  ground — 
Resolved  to  struggle  till  life's  sinking  ray 

Should  in  eternal  torpor  rest  profound  ; 

But  when  his  vision,  wildly  glancing  round, 
His  stricken  love  beheld,  he  sought  to  press 

Her  to  his  bosom,  and  with  frantic  bound 
Uprising,  kissed  her  lips  in  fond  caress, 
But  staggering  sank  again,  supine  in  nothingness. 


NAT  ZOAN.  71 


120 


Then  from  the  sward  the  Dyaks  slowly  bore 

Him,  still  oblivious,  to  a  neighboring  hut, 
Raised  on  a  hillock,  high  the  jungle  o'er, 

And  by  a  lofty  stockade  closely  shut ; 

Here  in  .a  cell,  where  heads  from  wairiors  cut  (10) 
Poised  from  the  rafters  hung,  he  rudely  thrown 

On  withered  fronds,  stripped  from  the  cocoanut, 
Was  left  to  die,  unshriven  and  alone, 
And  rackt  with  grievous  ills  his  frenzied  love  atone. 


121 


Here  as  he  lay,  Oloa  too  imbound, 

A  captive,  felt  the  force  of  Hossein's  ire, 

And  rued  the  fate  that  darkly  o'er  her  frowned — 
That  doomed  her  hopes  so  rudely  to  expire, 
And  crowned  the  hatred  of  her  tyrant  sire. 

Nat  Zoan  would  she  seek,  but  guards  restrained 
Her  eager  feet,  and  bade  her  hence  retire  ; 

Nor  tears,  nor  wiles,  nor  bribes  their  hearts  unchained, 

But  her  fast  lockt  they  held,  as  their  grim  chief  ordained. 


(10)     See  note. 


72  NAT  ZOAN. 


122 


Still  in  the  Head-house,  closely  fettered,  lay 

Nat  Zoan,  markt  with  many  a  grievous  wound — 

Gazing  with  sickened  eyes  each  dragging  day 
Upon  the  ghastly  trophies  swaying  round, 
Moved  by  the  winds  that  through  the  port-holes  found 

A  guardless  entrance  ;  and  to  him  each  head 
Seemed  as  it  swayed,  in  flaxen  nettings  bound, 

To  hold  the  spectre  of  its  owner  dead, 

Mocking  his  doleful  state  and  threatening  horrors  dread. 


123 


He  shuddered  as  he  gazed  upon  them  all — 
Those  gory  relics  of  departed  braves, 

Whom  now  no  warlike  signal  could  recall 
To  frenzied  strife — a  tyrant's  willing  slaves, 
Joying  for  him  to  fill  blood-boltered  graves  ; 

And  musing  on  them,  glimmering  in  the  den, 
Foresaw  the  hour — unless  him  Allah  saves — 

When  his  head  too  should  glut  the  Dyaks'  ken, 

Such  the  unholy  law  of  these  fierce-hearted  men. 


NAT  ZOAN.  73 


124 


Days  came  and  went — he  still  a  captive  lay, 
While  o'er  him  ever  swinging  to  and  fro, 

Like  restless  phantoms  in  the  shadow  gray, 

His  grim  companions — senseless  now  to  woe — 
Scowled  on  the  suffering  mortal  chained  below. 

To  him  they  seemed  to  revel  in  his  pain, 
And  grin  in  hideous  joy,  as  wheeling  slow 

They  showed  their  shrunken  jaws,  and  scowled  as  fain 

To  rise,  a  grisly  band,  and  join  the  fight  again. 


He  longed  for  death — for  more  than  death  was  his — 

But  longed  in  vain  :  not  yet  the  troublous  field 
He  must  forsake  ;  he  still  must  strive  in  this, 

And  still  awhile  Life's  cumbrous  truncheon  wield. 

Convinced  of  this,  his  heart  with  strength  he  steeled, 
And  sullen  lived,  his  dismal  state  despite ; 

His  vigor  rose,  his  wounds  all  gradual  healed, 
And  oft  his  spirit  winged  an  upward  flight, 
And  soared  to  realms  of  hope,  though  still  involved  in  night. 


74  NAT  ZOAN. 


126 


He  longed  again  to  plow  the  boundless  seas, 
And  leave  the  land  and  all  its  ills  behind — 

To  breathe  again  the  spirit-stirring  breeze 

And  sail  where'er  his  wandering  soul  inclined, 
Or  stretch  for  some  fair  isle  where  he  might  find 

A  refuge  from  his  haunting  misery, 

Which  like  a  burden  seemed  by  Fate  designed 

To  weigh  his  spirit  down  unceasingly — 

Till  crazed,  he  yearned  from  his  grief-tortured  self  to  flee. 


127 


But  vain  these  wishes  :  dreams  illusive  all, 

Since  he  must  die — so  Hossein  had  decreed  ; 
The  Jower  who  dared  his  sacred  child  to  thrall 

Must  by  the  headsman's  kris  in  public  bleed, 

And  expiate  with  life  so  grave  a  deed. 
This  day — the  day  on  which  the  fleet  shall  sail, 

While  favoring  winds  the  intended  passage  speed — 
Shall  his  death-throes  the  tyrant's  sight  regale, 
And  soothe  his  tiger  wrath,  though  wild  his  daughter  wail. 


CANTO    III. 


128 


There  is  a  sound  comes  to  mine  ear,  as  if 
A  gun  was  fired  upon  the  distant  main, 

And  sullen  echoes  pulsing  round  yon  cliff 
Told  me  the  tale  of  tragic  love  again — 
That  tale  which  in  oblivion  long  hath  lain. 

Roused  at  the  sound,  my  harp  anew  I  seize, 
And  tune  again  the  ever-sad  refrain 

That  moved  me  erst  to  sing,  as  Fate  decrees, 

Of  eld-time  vivid  themes  on  Borneo's  crisp-green  seas. 


129 


'Tis  fervid  noon  :  enveiled  in  molten  haze 
The  tangled  forest  droops  in  deep  repose — 

And  ocean  hushed,  a  mirror  seems  to  blaze 
Beneath  the  blinding  glare  the  day-king  throws, 
And  scarce  a  ripple  on  its  surface  flows, 

And  scarce  a  sound  upon  the  sea-marge  fell — 
No  longer  white  with  ocean's  briny  snows, 

For  Langour  weaved  o'er  all  her  mystic  spell, 

Foreboding  direful  act — hate  dark  and  terrible. 


76  NAT  ZOAN. 


130 


On  this  heat-stricken  day  Nat  Zoan's  life 

Must  end  in  death  its  lengthened  train  of  woes, 

And  his  brave  soul,  freed  by  the  ruthless  knife, 
Find  in  some  other  sphere  that  blest  repose 
Which  here  the  earth-bound  spirit  never  knows. 

Ay,  he  must  perish — perish  in  the  prime 

Of  years,  when  life  its  brightest  aspect  shows — 

When  nerved  with  courage,  with  a  soul  sublime, 

He  all  must  now  forego — fond  love  his  only  crime. 


Still  over  all  his  courage  nobly  rose, 

And  steeled  his  sinews  with  unflinching  pride — 
Taught  him  his  features  firmly  to  compose, 

Nor  show  how  hard  the  soul  beneath  was  tried, 

But  calmly,  sternly,  the  event  abide  ; 
Yet  'twas  unreal  all — mere  vainful  show, 

Since  nature  'gainst  the  deed  lamenting  cried— 
Foresaw  with  dread  her  life  departing  flow, 
Her  fires  electric  cease,  her  work  in  dust  laid  low. 


NAT  ZOAN.  77 


132 


Now  lost  in  gloomy  dreams  the  fated  man, 

Near  a  huge  porthole,  bound  in  fetters  lay, 
And  musing  on  his  fate,  his  vision  ran 

Upon  the  streams  that  wound  their  devious  way, 

Till  in  the  Sarawak  they  mingled  stray  ; 
Thence  farther  sent,  his  gaze  to  sea  extends, 

To  where  the  billows  on  the  reeflet  play — 
And  there  a  prahu  to  the  sea-wind  bends, 
And  toward  the  sheltering  port  her  foaming  pathway  wends. 


He  gazed  with  curious  interest  on  that  barge — 
So  strange  an  interest  that  it  seemed  to  him 

A  bearer  of  some  tidings  held  in  charge, 
From  some  wild  nation  far  beyond  the  rim 
Of  the  blue  waters  she  did  lightly  skim. 

He  watched  her  near  the  river's  winding  strand, 
And  new-born  hope  a-lit  his  spirit  dim  ; 

His  courage  rose,  by  sorrow  long  unmanned, 

And  freedom's  rising  star  his  kindling  vision  scanned. 


78  NAT  ZOAN. 


134 


But  while  he  gazed  upon  the  veering  bark, 

A  gong,  deep-sounding,  rolled  its  clanging  peal, 

Signalling  death  ;  and  troops  of  warriors  dark, 
In  rude  array  across  the  plateau  wheel, 
And  spear-heads  flash  a  glittering  sea  of  steel. 

The  issue  speeds  :  the  captive's  dream  is  o'er — 
His  fleshly  essence  soon  will  cease  to  feel, 

His  spirit  seek  that  dread,  that  shadowy  shore, 

Which  soul  in  mortal  casket  never  can  explore. 


'35 


Again  the  tocsin  rings  :  the  hour  is  come — 

A  swarthy  band  his  dismal  prison  thread  ; 
Pensive  he  turns,  all  sense,  all  feeling  numb, 

As  one  in  somnolescent  stupor  led 

To  the  oblivious  regions  of  the  dead. 
He  moves  supine,  opprest  with  brazen  chains, 

And  halts  beneath  a  wide  o'er-arching  shed — 
The  place  of  death ;  here,  while  deep  silence  reigns, 
Awaits  the  stroke  that  ends  all  struggles  and  all  pains. 


NAT  ZOAN.  79 


136 


But  ere  it  falls,  a  deep  alarming  sound 

Rolls  from  the  river,  and  with  dire  surprise 

Awakes  the  crowd  in  sullen  stupor  bound. 

Black  Hossein  starts,  rage  flashes  in  his  eyes — 
He  waves  his  hand,  awhile  foregoes  the  prize, 

Intent  to  learn  ere  he  the  Jower  slays 

Why  o'er  the  land  this  note  unseemly  flies  ; 

And  as  the  deadly  blow  he  grimly  stays,  f 

Before  his  lofty  throne  a  Dyak  prostrate  liet*     \^  &***\/9 


137 


Dark  news  he  brought,  by  yonder  prahu  borne, 

Whose  leila  fired  of  woeful  tidings  told — 
Tidings  which  many  a  bosom  caused  to  mourn, 

As  from  his  gasping  lips  they  slowly  rolled. 

A  tale  of  rage,  of  blood,  he  did  unfold  : 
How  the  false  raja  of  Sooloo  arose — 

Bribed,  so  avouched,  by  Celebezian  gold — 
And  branding  all. the  Dyaks  as  his  foes, 
At  midnight's  hour  they  fell  beneath  the  assassin's  blows. 


8o  NAT  ZOAN. 


A  few  escaped,  and  in  a  prahu  bent 

Their  rapid  course  across  the  adjacent  main, 

That  Hossein  might  the  rebel  circumvent, 
And  claiming  vengeance  for  his  people  slain, 
The  tyrant  crush  and  his  lost  power  regain. 

The  raja  heard  :  he  stroked  his  snowy  beard, 
And  swore  by  Allah  ere  the  moon  should  wane 

That  the  curst  isles,  which  once  his  vengeance  feared, 

.Should  feel  his  wrath  till  they  a  dreary  waste  appeared. 


'39 


Should  feel  his  wrath  till  he  the  traitor  crushed, 
And  headless  in  the  tomb  his  minions  lay  : 

Then  rose  in  haste,  while  all  the  assembly  hushed 
In  terror  saw  the  chieftan  stride  away, 
In  dreams  of  blood  his  vengeance  to  allay. 

Yet  ere  he  went  he  gave  a  hasty  sign, 
And  bade  the  sailor's  execution  stay 

Till  he  could  glut  at  ease  his  hate  malign, 

Or  to  some  selfish  end  the  hapless  man  assign. 


NAT  ZOAN.  8 1 


140 


Again  enchained  within  his  ghastly  den, 

Nat  Zoan  rests,  still  destined  to  exist, 
Yet  musing  sadly  on  the  future,  when 

The  headsman's  stroke  his  life-strands  should  untwist 

And  drop  him  into  naught,  here  hardly  missed. 
Yet  as  he  mused,  a  stealthy  step  he  heard 

Upon  the  floor — and  rising  up  to  list, 
Hocampi  saw,  who  bore  from  Hossein  word 
Of  talismanic  power,  and  with  him  thus  conferred. 


141 


He  pledged  him  life  if  he  across  the  wave 

Would  guide  the  fleet  for  Sooloo's  capture  meant- 

Those  goodly  islets  from  defection  save, 
And  curb  the  rebel  chieftain's  bold  intent, 
Now  with  the  flush  of  victory  insolent. 

This  task  performed  his  life  should  be  his  own, 
But  failing  from  him  be  immediate  rent ; 

His  answer  now  Hocampi  must  make  known — 

Tis  his  to  live  or  die,  he  must  decide  alone. 


82  NAT  ZOAN. 


142 


Nat  Zoan  heard  :  new  tumults  shook  his  breast, 
And  hope  again  in  light  auspicious  shone 

As  he  the  dark  emissary  addrest : — 

"  Hocampi,  to  your  mighty  chief  make  known 
These  terms  on  which  I  serve,  and  these  alone 

I  will  with  steadfast  zeal  his  fleet  command, 
And  him  as  my  illustrious  master  own, 

If  he  will  grant  me  fair  Oloa's  hand  ; 

Oloa  must  be  mine — this  is  my  sole  demand." 


Hocampi  scowled  :  a  vengeful  man  was  he, 

And  like  Nat  Zoan  loved  the  royal  maid  ; 
"  Thy  terms  are  high,"  he  muttered  sneeringly, 

And  passing  out  no  further  speech  essayed. 

When  he  was  gone  the  captive  to  his  aid 
All  his  philosophy,  his  courage  drew, 

To  calm  his  fears,  which  through  his  bosom  played, 
And  conjured  horrors  soon  to  burst  anew — 
For  he  such  bold  desire  felt  he  would  surely  rue. 


NAT  ZOAN.  83 


144 


But  soon  the  dusky  Labuan  re-appeared, 
With  darker  wrath  upon  his  lowering  brow  ; 

From  his  keen  eyes  malignant  hatred  leered, 
Though  striving  hard  to  be  attempered  now, 
Since  Hossein  did  with  power  his  foe  endow. 

"  I  come,"  he  said,  "  from  our  illustrious  sire, 
Who  gracious  will  thy  monstrous  wish  allow, 

If  thou  the  rebel  isles  wilt  blast  with  fire, 

And  doom  the  traitorous  chief  in  tortures  to  expire: 


145 


"  This  done  the  lovely  maid  thou  shalt  secure- 
But  first  to  Hossein  bring  the  rebel's  head, 

Him  of  thy  gallant  prowess  to  assure — 
To  prove  also  his  treacherous  vassal  dead  ; 
But  shouldst  thou  fail  or  Pulo  scape,  instead 

Of  sweet  Oloa's  hand,  the  headsman's  blade 
Shall  in  the  public  square  thy  life-blood  shed, 

And  thy  torn  relics,  ignominious  laid, 

Shall  gorge  the  vulture- flocks  that  haunt  the  desert  glade. 


84  NAT  ZOAN. 


146 


Nat  Zoan  heard — then  bade  the  wrathful  man 

This  answer  to  his  haughty  lord  convey  :  j 
"  That  he  who  had  so  many  hazards  ran, 
Whom  Fate  had  cast  in  so  perplext  a  way, 
Would  not  now  from  her  thorny  pathway  stray- 
But  would  in  sooth  to  this  compact  agree, 
And  even  death  for  the  fair  maid  essay, 
Since  reft  of  her  life  was  but  misery." 
This  his  reply  whate'er  the  end  ordained  might  be. 


147 


Hocampi  frowned  and  hastily  withdrew, 
While  jealous  hatred  in  his  bosom  boiled, 

And  muttering  vowed  his  pale-faced  foe  should  rue 
His  cherished  love  when  in  the  fight  embroiled, 
Or  failing  this  by  crafty  art  be  foiled  ; 

For  he  was  one  who  ne'er  a  wound  forgot, 
But  steadfast  round  it  all  his  venom  coiled, 

And  nerved  his  spirit  vengeance  deep  to  plot 

And  with  a  heavier  pang  the  cankering  injury  blot. 


NAT  ZOAN. 


i48 


But  serpent-like  his  thoughts  in  secret  held, 
And  to  his  chief  Nat  Zoan's  answer  bore — 

Who  chafing  heard,  to  frantic  rage  impelled, 
And  longing  still  to  shed  the  captive's  gore 
Yet  conscious  that  he  only  could  restore 

The  rebel  isles  to  his  despotic  sway — 

To  staunch  his  anger  for  a  while  forebore, 

And  bade  Hocampi  ere  the  flush  of  day 

Unto  the  council  hall  the  hated  Jower  convey. 


149 


Nat  Zoan  went,  and  with  the  raja  planned 
The  course  of  action  he  was  soon  to  take ; 

Then  sped  to  marshal  the  invading  band, 
Prepared  by  noon  the  river  to  forsake, 
With  thunder  charged  the  rebel  isles  to  shake. 

The  order  given,  away  the  squadron  bears, 

And  Sipang's  head  at  twilight  doubling  make — 

Thence  forward  urged  by  light  but  favoring  airs, 

Stretch  for  the  shoreless  deep  to  quest  the  traitorous  lairs. 


86  NAT  ZOAN. 


150 


Again  afloat  !     Again  upon  the  surge 

Nat  Zoan  threads  at  large  his  briny  home — 

Free  as  the  birds  that  round  his  fleet  converge, 
Free  as  the  winds  that  drive  the  billowy  foam — 
He  knows  no  lord,  free  as  he  lists  to  roam. 

Light  was  his  heart — no  sorrow  now  he  knew, 
And  bright  his  hopes  as  heaven's  star-lit  dome  ; 

Love  still  his  beacon-ray,  still  tried  and  true 

He  towered,  the  captain  of  an  Illanoan  crew. 


'Twere  long  to  tell  the  story  of  that  flight — 

That  baffling  passage  o'er  the  treacherous  main  ; 

To  paint  the  terrors  of  the  deadly  fight 
That  gave  the  isles  to  Hossein's  rule  again, 
And  fouled  their  sheen  with  many  a  gory  stain. 

'Twere  long  to  tell — nor  fits  it  to  narrate 
How  fought  the  rebel  Pulo — how  half  slain 

He  fell  among  the  dead,  assured  his  fate, 

But  Zoan  stayed  the  blow  with  hand  compassionate. 


NAT  ZOAN.  87 


152 


Flushed  with  success  the  victors  homeward  steer, 

And  bound  in  chains  the  traitor  chieftain  bear, 
That  Hossein  may  his  vengeance  launch  severe 

And  smite  the  man  who  did  his  anger  dare — 

Ay,  roused  the  tiger  in  his  very  lair. 
Fared  well  the  voyage  ;  they  reach  the  river  tide 

And  stretch  for  Kuchin  on  the  margin  there, 
While  as  between  the  winding  banks  they  glide 
Loud  cheers  of  welcome  rise  from  throngs  on  either  side. 


153 


But  evening  falls  ere  they  the  town  attain, 
And  Hossein  wearied  lay  in  sleep  opprest — 

Nor  audience  from  him  could  Nat  Zoan  gain, 
Till  day  awaking  roused  him  to  unrest, 
When  he  in  solemn  state  could  be  addrest. 

Hence  on  his  ship  the  sailor  still  remained, 

Slumbering  betimes,  though  dreams  his  mind  infest, 

And  horrors  o'er  each  vision  darkly  reigned — 

Or  wakeful  oft,  his  thoughts  a  flight  perturbed  maintained. 


NAT  ZOAN. 


'Tis  night's  meridian  hour,  when  locked  in  sleep 
One-half  the  sphere  in  shadow  lies  imbound — 

When  shapes  immortal  mystic  vigils  keep, 
And  safely  guide  the  wheeling  planet  round, 
And  to  the  mortal  race  in  dreams  expound 

The  secret  laws  of  Fate.     Now  over  all 

Shade  broods  immense — nor  rolls  a  jarring  sound, 

Save  when  the  watchmen  from  .their  stations  call, 

Or  bays  some  restless  dog,  linked  to  yon  sea-girt  wall. 


155 


Or  when  with  elfin  voices  warbling  low 
The  broken  ripples  murmur  on  the  shore, 

Or  distant  heard,  the  breakers  hoarsely  flow, 
And  in  soul-saddening  diapasons  roar — 
The  coral-reef  and  quicksand  foaming  o'er  ; 

Or  when  in  thicket  hid,  thy  solemn  note 
Oh,  Campanero  !  doth  the  maze  explore, 

Like  chime  of  bell  in  silvery  tinklings  float — 

Oft  have  thy  nightly  peals  mine  ear  with  sadness  smote. 


NAT  ZOAN.  89 


156 


Or  when  in  spirit-whispers,  heard  afar, 

The  voice  of  night  vibrates  amid  the  gloom, 

Or  shattered  falls  in  heaven  some  meteor  star, 
Whose  dying  flushes  for  a  while  illume, 
Then  sink  in  shade,  such  lustres  certain  doom  ; 

Or  haply  borne  upon  the  sighing  gale 

The  sea-bird's  plaint,  or  bittern's  hollow  boom, 

In  mingled  tones  the  wakeful  ear  assail, 

And  all  in  chorus  joined  with  grief  the  soul  enveil. 


On  such  a  night,  rife  with  such  ghostly  sounds, 

Nat  Zoan  in  his  cabin  restless  lay, 
While  thought  beyond  the  reach  of  reason  bounds 

Into  chaotic  realms,  cast  away 

Upon  the  rocks  of  Fancy — deadlier  they 
Than  those  on  which  the  nautic  bard  was  lost.  ( 1 1 ) 

Thus  long  he  wrought,  to  feverish  dreams  a  prey, 
Till  slumber  calmed  his  spirits,  tempest-tost, 
And  him  enchained  till  dawn  night's  eastern  barrier  crost. 


(n)     See  note. 


90  NAT  ZOAN. 


158 


And  whilst  his  mind  these  dire  chimeras  held, 
A  lonely  barge  adown  the  river  glides  ; 

By  muffled  oars  and  vigorous  arms  impelled, 
Her  pointed  beak  the  sullen  wave  divides, 
And  soon  beneath  the  prahu's  stern  she  rides. 

Then  o'er  the  rail  an  agile  figure  springs, 

And  seeks  the  cell  where  Sooloo's  chief  abides  ; 

The  lock  unclasps,  his  fetters  from  him  flings, 

And  him  to  subtly  guise,  a  Quelpart  mantle  brings. 


'59 


Then  muttered  "  Haste," — (aha  !  that  guttural  tone, 
That  cat-like  step  the  gaunt  Hocampi  mark.) 

He  leads  the  captive  forth,  and  him  alone 
Seats  in  the  stern- sheets  of  the  little  bark — 
Then  swiftly  cleaves  the  winding  river  dark. 

Soon  in  the  gloom  the  barge  is  lost  to  view, 
Still  drifting  down  the  silent  Sarawak, 

Till  ocean  spreads  its  boundless  scope  of  blue — 

Then  moors  as  sunrise  glares  the  lurid  vapors  through. 


NAT  ZOAN.  91 


1 60 


Hocampi  lands,  and  with  his  trusty  crew 

The  rebel  chieftain  hurries  from  the  strand — 

Fearful,  Mest  roused,  Nat  Zoan  should  pursue, 
And  pour  destruction  on  his  faithful  bandflfe 
Arid  mar  the  scheme  he  had  so  deftly  planned. 

Hence  far  amid  the  wood,  within  a  cave 
That  eye  of  man  had  rarely  ever  scanned, 

They  hid  the  chief,  avouching  him  to  save 

If  he  secluded  kept,  nor  sign  of  being  gave. 


161 


Thus  hid  within  the  cave,  in  jungle  dense, 

They  left  him  in  concealment  firmly  bound, 
With  three  bold  Dyaks  armed  for  his  defense 

Against  the  beasts  that  fiercely  prowled  around  ; 

Then  back  their  devious  course  for  Kuchin  wound. 
The  deed  was  done  :    Hocampi's  daring  skill 

His  vengeful  plot  with  deep  success  had  crowned  ; 
Nat  Zoan  now  his  vow  could  not  fulfil, 
And  him  in  frenzied  wrath  would  blood-stained  Hossein  kill. 


92  NAT  ZOAN. 


162 

Qh,  fell  is  he  who  nurseth  deadly  wrath, 

Who  darkly  broods  upon  an  injury — 
Unceasing  horrors  dog  his  thistly  path,  ft 

A  J0)«ifc  being  he  must  ever  be,  (^£^1^ 

A  prey  to  self-created  misery. 
And  such  a  man  Hocampi — evil  bent, 

Nat  Zoan's  unrelenting  enemy, 
By  hopeless  love  with  ruthless  vengeance  blent, 
To  madness  urged,  conspired  upon  his  death  intent. 


,63 


Loud  peals  the  gong — the  tom-tom  (12)  hoarsely  rolls, 

And  spear-tops  glisten  in  the  rising  sun  ; 
Chiefs  proudly  stalk,  and  lesser  braves  in  shoals 

To  Hossein's  palace  haste  to  witness  one, 

A  faithless  Jower,  meet  due  justice  done. 
There  sat  the  raja  on  a  jeweled  throne, 

And  scowled  on  all  with  look  the  boldest  shun — 
For  deadliest  hate  within  his  eyeballs  shone, 
And  glared  on  him  whose  fault  blood  only  could  condone. 

(12)     See  note. 


NAT  ZOAN.  93 


164 


And  lo,  beside  the  imperious  chief,  a  maid 
Of  peerless  beauty  gazes  wildly  round  ; 

Loose  her  attire — no  more  in  pomp  arrayed, 

She  sadly  droops,  while  fall  her  locks  unbound — 
Dark  glistening  locks,  that  trail  along  the  ground. 

At  length  her  glance  upon  Nat  Zoan  falls, 
And  at  that  glance  her  sire  in  anger  frowned — 

For  well  it  spoke  of  love  that  life  enthralls  : 

Love  fixed  for  aye,  that  naught  of  danger  e'er  appals. 


As  when  great  Wallace  as  a  captive  stood, 

In  godlike  pride,  before  the  sleuth-hound  crew 

Who  loathed  his  genius,  shamed  that  man  so  good 
Should  as  a  vivid  being  blast  their  view — 
A  hero  matchless,  as  a  patriot  true  : — 

So  mid  the  swarthy  host,  with  hatred  rife, 

Who  naught  of  mercy,  naught  of  honor  knew, 

Nat  Zoan  stood,  to  answer  with  his  life 

The  traitor  Pulo's  flight  in  the  Sooloosian  strife. 


94  NAT  ZOAN. 


166 


He  to  fierce  Hossein  tersely  did  relate 

The  prime  events  of  his  successful  war  : 
How  he  the  insurrection  did  abate, 

And  on  the  islets  stamp  the  royal  law  ; 

How  he  the  rebel  chieftain  wounded  saw 
Among  a  heap  of  slain — and  him  enchained 

In  fetters  huge  and  innocent  of  flaw, 
A  prisoner  close,  till  yesternight  remained  ; 
Whence  he  escaped,  forsooth,  was  mystery  unexplained. 


167 


He  spoke  :  unquailing  on  the  raja  gazed, 

Who  stroked  his  snowy  beard  with  nervous  hand, 

While  vengeance  in  his  eyes  dilating  blazed, 
As  he  the  sailor's  steady  features  scanned 
And  secretly  his  murderous  purpose  planned. 

Then  hoarsely  forth  his  broken  accents  rolled, 
For  frenzied  rage  his  reason  had  unmanned  : 

"Oh,  thou  who  hast  so  oft  escaped  our  hold, 

Who  now  our  power  dost  mock  with  eye  and  visage  bold- 


NAT  ZOAN.  95 


68 


"  Know  that  at  last  thy  villainy  is  sealed, 

The  due  reward  of  all  thy  crimes  is  near  ; 
Unless  curst  Pulo's  lurking  place  revealed 

Condones  thy  crime — thy  punishment  severe  ; 

His  lair  avouch,  and  bid  the  dog  appear." 
Nat  Zoan  heard  :  "  I  know  not  where  he  bides, 

Else  had  I  brought  him  bound  a  captive  here  ; 
His  flight  was  strange — all  present  search  derides, 
Though  in  the  jungle  near  I  deem  he  deftly  hides. 


169 


"  Nay  more,  oh,  chief,  I  deem  some  recreant  slave 

Him  from  the  prahu  led  to  peril  me — 
As  false  to  thee,  whose  mercy  now  I  crave." 

"Silence,  thou  cur!  must  thou  still  daring  be  ?" 

Outspoke  the  raja,  chafing  furiously. 
"  Ho  guards,  arise!  your  krisses  draw  and  slay  ; 

Bismillah!  he  doth  utter  heresy. 
To  arms !  to  arms !  our  mandate  all  obey — 
Down  with  the  white-faced  Jower — him  headless  instant  lay !' 


96  NAT  ZOAN. 


170 


Wild  was  the  yell  that  from  the  throng  arose, 
And  woman's  voice  was  mingled  with  the  strain. 

As  round  the  fated  man  the  warriors  close 
And  ceaseless  strokes  upon  him  fiercely  rain, 
Resolved  he  ne'er  shall  scape  their  lord  again. 

High  in  the  air  flashed  many  an  ataghan, 
Whose  lustre  many  a  gory  clot  did  stain — 

And  darts  and  javelins,  scarce  a  pigmy's  span, 

About  the  sailor  glanced,  and  thus  the  fray  began. 


171 


But  he  alert,  his  goodly  kris  outdrew, 

And  like  a  meteor  waved  it  round  his  head  ; 

Then  swift  a  pathway  hewed  his  foemen  through, 
Bestrewn  with  heaps  of  dying  and  of  dead, 
Till  back  the  living  cowered  in  abject  dread  ; 

Thence  toward  Oloa  sprang,  and  her  upbore 
Amid  the  cowering  throng,  and  swiftly  sped 

With  his  fair  burden  to  the  river  shore — 

Thence  his  fleet  prahu  gained,  prepared  the  seas  t'  explore. 


NAT  ZOAN.  97 


172 


His  men  he  calls — his  men  with  cheers  respond, 
And  to  the  sweeps  with  vigorous  sinews  bend — 

And  ere  the  foes  pursue,  a  mile  beyond 
The  uproused  town  the  river  they  descend, 
And  toward  the  main  their  rapid  flight  extend. 

But  still  astern  careered  the  raja's  crew 

Till  sunset,  when  the  hopeless  chase  they  end  ; 

Then,  as  they  turned,  one  shot  Nat  Zoan  threw, 

And  charged  with  death  into  Hocampi's  breast  it  flew 


END. 


NOTES. 


I  NOTE  i — PAGE   14. 

"A  Leila ,  long  in  peaceful  age  grown  old." 

LEILA.— A  brass  cannon  used  by  the  Malays,  Usually  carrying  a  two- 
pound  shot,  and  mounted  on  the  bows  of  the  war  prahus. 

NOTE  2— PAGE   16. 
" Their  junk  a  Prahu  suddenly  assailed" 

PRAHU. — A  Malay  war-boat,  built  of  timber  at  the  lower  part — at  the 
upper  of  bamboo  and  kedgang,  the  dried  leaf  of  the  Nepa  palm.  Out 
side  the  bends  is  a  narrow  gallery,  in  which  the  rowers  sit  cross-legged. 
A  cabin  is  formed  in  the  after  part  for  the  Chief  who  commands.  Over  all 
the  vessel  runs  a  strong  flat  roof,  on  which  the  warriors  fight — their  arms 
being  the  kris  and  spear,  both  of  which  require  elbow  room.  A  piece  of 
artillery  called  a  leila  is  placed  on  the  bows.  Each  prahu  holds  about 
eighty  men — is  swift,  gaily  painted,  and  frequently  ornamented  with 
feathers. 


ioo  NOTES. 


NOTE  3 — PAGE    18. 
'•'•A  jewelled  Kris,  which  once  as  master  claimed.'" 

KRIS. — A  sword  of  the  Malays,  sinuous  in  shape,  and  sometimes 
poisoned.  A  Kris  once  possessed  by  a  famous  warrior  is  highly  prized  ; 
hence  the  value  of  Hocampi's  present  to  Nat  Zoan.  The  handle  of  this 
weapon,  wrought  of  wood,  is  also  supposed  to  possess  cabalistic  powers, 
and  such  as  are  elaborate  in  character  command  fabulous  prices. 


NOTE  4 — PAGE  27. 
Ballu,  forever  doomed  to  keep.*' 

KEENEY  BALLU. — The  highest  mountain  in  Borneo,  rising  14,000  feet 
above  the  level  of  the  s.ea.  It  is  remarkable  for  the  numerous  cascades 
which  fall  from  its  summit,  where  a  lake  exists,  said  by  the  Dyaks  to  be 
haunted  by  the  shadows  of  the  dead. 


NOTES  5  AND  6— PAGE  31. 
"CVj,  for  a  hate  such  as  Damiens  bore*'1 

ROBERT  FRANCIS  DAMIENS. — A  native  of  France,  executed  March  28, 
1757,  for  attempting  to  assassinate  the  king. 

" Such  as  Chastel  with  endless  glory  crowned." 

JOHN  CHASTEL. — The  son  of  a  woolen-draper  of  Paris,  who  attempted 
to  kill  Henry  IV  of  France,  December  27,  1594.  He  and  Damiens  were 
put  to  death  with  horrid  tortures. 


NOTES.  101 


NOTE  7— PAGE  33. 
"•Or  scorn  the  turbaned  Seer,  whose  law  hath  no  appeal" 

MOHAMMAD. — No  name  has  probably  suffered  more  at  the  hands  of 
transcribers  than  that  of  the  founder  of  Islamism.  It  is  written  no  less 
than  forty  different  ways,  its  pronunciation  being  almost  equally  indefi 
nitely  established.  The  correct  form  is  Mohammad — so  written  and  pro 
nounced  on  the  authority  of  Senator  Wm.  J.  Shaw,  who  during  a  length 
ened  sojourn  among  the  Oriental  nations,  critically  observed  their  manners 
customs,  religious  and  social  ceremonies,  modes  of  expression,  etc.  The 
Senator  also  takes  issue  against  the  popular  fallacy  of  the  upas  being  a 
deadly  plant.  During  his  residence  in  Java  he  searchingly  investigated  its 
properties,  and  was  convinced  of  their  harmlessness.  One  strong  proof  of 
this  is  the  cultivation  of  the  plant,  which,  considered  exceedingly  orna 
mental,  is  found  in  almost  every  garden.  The  annihilation  of  this  super 
stition  will  fall  heavily  on  the  imaginants  who  have  been  wont  to  consider 
the  upas  a  symbol  of  extreme  malignancy. 


NOTE  8— PAGE  46. 
'''•Then  from  his  belt  a  Sum-pi-tan  he  drew" 

SUM-PI-TAN. — A  reed  through  which  a  small  dart  is  propelled  by  blow 
ing.  The  dart  is  charged  with  poison,  and  the  wound  usually  fatal. 
Though  used  chiefly  to  kill  birds,  it  is  often  employed  against  larger 
game,  the  huge  serpents  of  these  fiery  latitudes  occasionally  falling  victims 
to  its  deadly  attributes. 


102  NOTES. 


NOTE  9— PAGE  54. 
' '  Thou  the  brave  Joiuer  of  power  invincible. ' ' 

JOWER. — This  word,  immortalized  by  Byron,  signifies  "infidel."  It  is 
usually  written  "Giaour,"  but  as  this  mode  is  the  cause  of  much  mis- 
pronouncement,  I  have  ventured  to  anglicize  the  word,  conforming  the  or 
thography  to  the  pronunciation. 


NOTE  10 — PAGE  71. 
tlHere  in  a  cell,  where  heads  from  warriors  cut." 

Outside  most  Dyak  villages  there  is  a  building  raised  on  posts,  circular 
in  shape,  pointed  roofed,  and  pierced  with  port-holes.  This  is  the  Head- 
house,  in  which  are  suspended  the  heads  of  enemies  killed  in  battle. 
These  cerebral  mementoes  are  usually  painted  in  barbaric  style — pieces  of 
wood,  colored  to  represent  eyes,  being  inserted  in  the  visual  sockets,  and 
gaudy-tinted  tassels  floating  from  the  shrunken  chins.  The  heads  are 
swung  from  beams,  the  lines  passing  through  the  skulls  and  being  long, 
allowing  considerable  vibration  when  the  wind  blows  strongly  through  the 
port-holes. 

NOTE  n — PAGE  89. 
'•"Than  those  on  which  the  nautic  bard  was  lost." 

Allusion  is  here  made  to  Falconer,  incontestably  the  greatest  marine 
poet  of  the  world.  His  untimely  fate  by  shipwreck  in  the  Mozambique 
channel  was  a  fitting  end  to  him  whose  muse  had  been  cradled  on  the 
surge  and  nurtured  in  the  tempest. 


NOTES.  103 


NOTE  12 — PAGE  92. 
'•'•Loud  peals  the  gong — the  tom-tom  hoarsely  rolls." 

TOM-TOM. — A  drum  used  by  the  people  of  the  Malaysian  Isles.  The 
gong  also  employed  is  larger  than  the  Chinese,  and  has  a  more  sonorous 
sound. 


ERRATUM. 

In  line  ninth,  verse  91,   for  "vision"  read  "visage. 


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